The feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the most popular feast day in Mexico and the Southwester United States. December 16th and 24th the community celebrates Posadas. There are many ways you can celebrate the feast day. Below are several suggested activities. Throughout are links to pages within and outside of this site that offer more specific feast day activities.
Shrine for Our Lady of Guadalupe

An image or State of Our Lady of Guadalupe should be placed in a prominent location. The Lady should be surrounded with flowers. Votive candles with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe are traditional.Form a procession and sign the traditional Mananitas while people bring flowers to the shrine.
Activites

Reenact the drama of Juan Diego and Our Lady with props. Simple props could include a cloak, paper or silk flowers, and an Image of Our Lady.
Break a piñata. This is a common part of most Mexican celebrations.
Coloring pages of Our Lady of Guadalupe http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19991201.GRAPHICS/guadalupe.pdf
Our Lady of Guadalupe Marian Grotto Kit http://www.illuminatedink.com/products/4/12/95/
Decorate Tilmas- provide each person with a plain canvas apron and ask them to personaizle it was flowers and their own touch. This is a great activity for all ages.
Art Discussion- Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most popular images in the Western Hemisphere. There have been several recreations of the tilma as well as art depicting the story of Guadalupe. Discuss the different forms of art, how they compare and contrast, and how they support the miracle of Our Lady.
Break a piñata. This is a common part of most Mexican celebrations.
Coloring pages of Our Lady of Guadalupe http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19991201.GRAPHICS/guadalupe.pdf
Our Lady of Guadalupe Marian Grotto Kit http://www.illuminatedink.com/products/4/12/95/
Decorate Tilmas- provide each person with a plain canvas apron and ask them to personaizle it was flowers and their own touch. This is a great activity for all ages.
Art Discussion- Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most popular images in the Western Hemisphere. There have been several recreations of the tilma as well as art depicting the story of Guadalupe. Discuss the different forms of art, how they compare and contrast, and how they support the miracle of Our Lady.
Costume and Dance

Song and dance are a central part of this celebration. Traditional Mexican dances are performed. The traditional dances are performed all day.
Celebrants dress in traditional Mexican clothing. Wear your most festive clothes or make your own costumes. Make sure they are colorful!
Celebrants dress in traditional Mexican clothing. Wear your most festive clothes or make your own costumes. Make sure they are colorful!
Music and Song

Las Mañanitas, the Mexican Birthday Song, is typically sung at midnight or early morning and during Mass the day of the feast. It can be sung anytime during your celebration.
Spanish Lyrics
Estas son las mañanitas que cantaba el rey David.
Hoy por ser día de tu santo, te las cantamos a ti.
Despierta mi bien, despierta, mira que ya amaneció
ya los pajarillos cantan la luna ya se metió.
Qué linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte
venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte.
El día en que tu naciste nacieron todas las flores
y en la pila del bautismo cantaron los ruiseñores
Ya viene amaneciendo, ya la luz del día nos dio.
Levántate de mañana mira que ya amaneció.
English Translation
These are the songs that King David sang.
Today because it is the day of your saint, we sing them to you.
Wake up my dear, wake up, see that the day has dawned
the birds sing, the moon has set.
How lovely is the morning in which I come to greet you
we all come with joy and pleasure to congratulate you.
The day you were born all the flowers bloomed
and in the baptismal font sang the nightingales.
The dawn has come, the light of the day is given to us.
Get up with the morning and see that it has dawned.
Click the link below to listen to Las Mananitas
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Las_Mananitas.ogg
Spanish Lyrics
Estas son las mañanitas que cantaba el rey David.
Hoy por ser día de tu santo, te las cantamos a ti.
Despierta mi bien, despierta, mira que ya amaneció
ya los pajarillos cantan la luna ya se metió.
Qué linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte
venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte.
El día en que tu naciste nacieron todas las flores
y en la pila del bautismo cantaron los ruiseñores
Ya viene amaneciendo, ya la luz del día nos dio.
Levántate de mañana mira que ya amaneció.
English Translation
These are the songs that King David sang.
Today because it is the day of your saint, we sing them to you.
Wake up my dear, wake up, see that the day has dawned
the birds sing, the moon has set.
How lovely is the morning in which I come to greet you
we all come with joy and pleasure to congratulate you.
The day you were born all the flowers bloomed
and in the baptismal font sang the nightingales.
The dawn has come, the light of the day is given to us.
Get up with the morning and see that it has dawned.
Click the link below to listen to Las Mananitas
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Las_Mananitas.ogg
Decorations

Make paper roses to decorate your shrine and use in your processional. Directions for paper roses can be found at the link below.http://www.theholidayspot.com/mothersday/crafts/paper_flower.htm
Papel Picado is a simple, traditional Mexican decoration that can be made out of tissue paper. This is a great crafts for kids to do. There are also online vendors that carry this decoration.
http://www.dltk-kids.com/world/mexico/mpapel_picado.htm
Papel Picado is a simple, traditional Mexican decoration that can be made out of tissue paper. This is a great crafts for kids to do. There are also online vendors that carry this decoration.
http://www.dltk-kids.com/world/mexico/mpapel_picado.htm
Prayers
Praying is an extremely important part of any feast day. Below is a link to several different prayers to Our Lady of Guadalupe
Food
Traditional Mexican feasts are filled with delicious foods. Below is a link to recipes that will help make your celebration of the Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe complete.