It was two in the morning and the Virgin of Ocotlán came down from her niche again to be adored by the Tlaxcala people. The fervor turned to the streets and began the pilgrimage that for many hours would be covered with petals and prayers.
The echo of the bells announced the first of nine Masses. In the middle of the morning, I set out to enjoy the greatest expression of the Baroque in Tlaxcala: the Basilica of Ocotlán, located a 15-minute walk from the Plaza de la Constitución, in the center of the city.
Upon reaching the church atrium, the handmade painted sawdust rugs, which are part of the most important festivities in the state, were ready. The mariachis began their song that, among hundreds of people, would not stop until the Virgin returned to her temple.
The celebration, according to historical sources, begins with the appearance of the Virgin in 1541, when Juan Diego Bernardino, going for water towards the Zahuapan River, is surprised by the words and the image that was presented in front of him. When asked why he was carrying so much water, Juan Diego replied that it was for the sick, because smallpox hit the population. Thus, the Virgin tells him the place where he must take the water to heal them.
The legend also tells that after a strong lightning strike that fell on the hill, a fire broke out in one of the ocote trees, when it was extinguished, the figure of the Virgin emerged from the ashes. Thus, the image was brought before the Franciscan friars, and later, in procession, to a small chapel where Saint Lawrence was venerated. Immediately, the crowd lowered the saint and raised the Virgin to her new niche. The sacristan, enraged because the saint of his devotion had been lowered, waited for the night and put him back in his place. The next day, the Virgin was up again. History repeated itself, even when the father brought the image to his house to avoid at all costs that the Virgin replaced the altar of San Lorenzo. All adjudged that the deeds were carried out by angels and it is only thus that the sacristan finally accepted the Virgin of Ocotlán.
The Knights of the Virgin
Once they pray, cry and offer flowers or sacrifices, those assigned to carry and protect the Virgin throughout the journey, prepare for the arduous task. Marciano Padilla is part of one of the companies created for this purpose and he explained to us that on the one hand there is the Society of Porters of Andas, destined to carry the valuable image on their shoulders throughout the journey; and on the other is the Sociedad del Palio, in charge of covering it and preventing the light from causing its deterioration.
The meaning of this festival takes shape when the Virgin visits the townspeople in their daily lives, such as in a department store, the municipal market, the hospital, the bus station and the cathedral, among some other points. El Pocito, the last point before returning to the parish and space where the apparition took place, is still visited by people who extract water from its bottom.
Once the so-called "Knights of the Virgin" announced that they were ready, the human fence, made up mainly of young people, waited to accompany her on her return, to prevent her path from being obstructed. Meanwhile, the fireworks dressed the sky and dismissed the Virgin.
At the end of the journey, the rain appeared and everyone walked soaked up the hill, clearing the doubts in their devotion. The path, previously marked, full of colors, like watercolor was diluted, a few minutes after the feat was accomplished. However, nothing prevented the “Knights of the Virgin” from Ocotlán from returning to the basilica tired and at the same time satisfied to conclude the offering that another year renews the belief of this beautiful city.
