Zapopan's pilgrimage. Permanent renewal of our Indian past

Abstract

This essay examines the history of Mexico's largest pilgrimage, to the Virgin of Zapopan, which takes place on October 12 of each year. 65,000 danzantes and about three million pilgrims participate, who accompany her back to her basilica after she has visited all the parishes of the neighboring city of Guadalajara. This tradition has been maintained since the 18th century as a vindication of the importance of western Mexico in the face of centralization policies throughout history. It also shows how in a region where the indigenous population was exterminated during the Colony and its inhabitants are proud of their Creole identity, in popular religious traditions the traces of that indigenous past that will not be erased are flourished , because it is a fundamental part of the mestizaje of the Mexican population, its tradition and its culture.