even before the alarm went off. He gently shook Dina, whispering, “I know it’s early, but I’d like to take you and the boys somewhere special this morning.”
Dina yawned, but nodded and rose, stumbling into the shower while Julio roused the boys. At first they grumbled, but when he told them he had a surprise for them, they perked up and dressed hurriedly.
The family was in the car and headed across town before 4 AM.
The city was dark and quiet, the streets almost empty so early on a Monday morning. And then, they came upon the church where a crowd was gathering, a Mariachi band was playing and Aztec dancers burned incense in homage to The Lady of Guadalupe. The family graciously accepted the hot chocolate that was being offered.
“Mmmm…” Kazu smacked his lips at the taste of cinnamon.
“What’s going on, Daddy?” Gustavo rubbed his eyes while taking in all the festivity.
“Today is the feast of La Virgen de Guadalupe,” Julio explained. “The story is that a long, long time ago, a simple man, named Juan Diego, saw a vision of a young lady on a hill in the desert near Mexico City. She told him to build a church right where he was standing. When Juan Diego told the bishop, he was asked for proof. So he went back to the lady and she told him, “Bring the flowers behind you.” Juan Diego turned around and found flowers growing right behind him, even though it was winter. He cut the flowers and put them in his poncho to take back to the bishop. But when he opened his poncho to show the bishop the flowers, there on his poncho was the image of the dark young lady, Our Lady of Guadalupe.”
Dina felt tears spring to her eyes as she listened to her husband tell the story and saw the wonder on her sons’ faces. She smiled at Julio over her steaming cup of cocoa. And at 4:00, the time when the lady appeared to Juan Diego all those years ago, the family joined the others for a special mass followed by a pilgrimage to a nearby park.
The boys fell asleep during the service, but Dina took it all in, wide-eyed with delight. Julio fed his family tamales before driving them to work and school. They would all be sleepy throughout the day, but no one complained.
Dina gushed over the early morning celebration to her co-workers.
“That’s so beautiful!” Muriel mused.
“And, Julio is never that enthusiastic!” Dina exclaimed.
“You know, the holidays are so magical when we’re kids. I remember getting so excited about Saint Lucy’s Day when I was a little girl. It’s a big deal in the Swedish community in Wisconsin,” Muriel recalled.
“Do you go back there often?” Yusuf asked.
“Nah, my parents split up and everyone is spread out all over,” Muriel said. Then she quickly went into her office.
“Saint Lucia’s Day,” Dina muttered after her.
To be continued December 13...
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