Our lady of Guadalupe

the Hispanic calendar in the southwest and California begins with the period of advent and the preparation for Christmas. Mary is a central figure in the expectation of Christmas. The feast of our lady of Guadalupe on December 12 or the Sunday previous to that date is the center of celebration. The feast honors mary as empress of the Americas and recalls her apparitions to the indigenous man, juan diego (saint juan diego, after he was canonized in 2002), on the hill of Tepeyac in mexico city. In many places, special novenas or triduos are held in preparation, including prayers, hymns, readings and sermons.