How to Celebrate the Feast of St. Juan Diego (December 9) and Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12)

The feast days of St. Juan Diego (December 9) and Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12) are a beautiful way to honor the humble servant of Our Lady and the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary. These feasts are deeply connected in history and are celebrated with vibrant traditions, especially in Mexico. Whether you celebrate them on their individual days or together, there are plenty of meaningful activities to enjoy with your family. Here are some ideas to make these feasts special, including using our printables to enhance your celebration!

1. Enjoy Traditional Mexican Foods

Both St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe have deep ties to Mexican culture, making it the perfect occasion to enjoy traditional Mexican foods.

• Mexican Hot Chocolate: A rich, spiced drink made with chocolate, cinnamon, and vanilla. It’s perfect for a cozy celebration.
  
• Mexican Wedding Cookies: These sweet, buttery cookies covered in powdered sugar are a simple yet meaningful way to celebrate the day.
  
• Enchiladas or Tacos: For a hearty meal, make some enchiladas or tacos filled with chicken, beef, or beans. Add salsa and fresh toppings for a truly festive meal.

These delicious foods are a fun way to bring the cultural flavors of these feasts into your home.

2. St. Juan Diego’s Hot Cocoa Stand Activity

Celebrate St. Juan Diego’s humble spirit by setting up a St. Juan Diego Hot Cocoa Stand! This is a great activity for kids to take part in, serving pretend cocoa (or real cocoa) to family members. You can talk to the children about St. Juan Diego’s devotion to Our Lady and how he humbly carried out her message. 

3. Bring Flowers to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Another beautiful way to celebrate is by offering flowers to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Have the children gather roses (or any colorful flowers) and place them around a statue or image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This simple act of devotion mirrors the roses that St. Juan Diego brought to the bishop. It’s also a great opportunity to talk about the significance of Mary’s appearance to St. Juan Diego and her message of love and compassion for all people.

4. Decorate with an Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Set up a space in your home to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe by displaying an image or statue of her. We have a printable Our Lady of Guadalupe gouache painting available. You can use our coloring page of Our Lady of Guadalupe to help children engage with her image and better understand the significance of the tilma and the miraculous apparition.

5. Use Our Printables to Enhance the Celebration

To make your celebration even more fun and meaningful, we have some printables that will engage children and help them learn more about St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe:

• St. Juan Diego Coloring Page
• Our Lady of Guadalupe Coloring Page
• Rose Cut-and-Glue Activity for Our Lady of Guadalupe: This activity allows children to cut out and glue paper roses around the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, reflecting the miraculous roses that St. Juan Diego presented as proof of his encounter with her.
  

These printables are a great way to keep children engaged and learning while they celebrate these important feast days.

6. Pray Together and Reflect on the Feasts

Gather together as a family and pray, remembering the significance of St. Juan Diego’s encounter with Our Lady and her message. You can pray the Hail Mary or, for older children, the Rosary, reflecting on the Joyful Mysteries.

7. Celebrate on the Same Day

If you’re celebrating both feasts on the same day, here’s how to do it all in one special celebration:

• Start with prayer to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego.
• Serve a festive meal like tacos, enchiladas, or Mexican hot chocolate, followed by Mexican wedding cookies for dessert.
• Engage the kids with the St. Juan Diego Hot Cocoa Stand activity and offer flowers to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
• Decorate your space with an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and use our printables to add fun activities to the day.

By celebrating in this way, you can honor both St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe with prayer, food, and hands-on activities that bring the whole family together in faith.

By incorporating traditional foods, creative activities, and our printables, you can make the feast days of St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe a memorable and meaningful experience for your family.