Romería de Zapopan
12 October 2026 — Candles and flowers light the road to Zapopan. A peaceful pilgrimage!
Every year on 12 October, thousands of people in Mexico accompany the revered image of Our Lady of Zapopan, a small figure made of corn-stalk paste in a procession. It travels from the cathedral in Guadalajara to the basilica in Zapopan, roughly eight kilometres away. The statue dates from the 16th century and is linked to Franciscan missionaries. Tradition holds that she protects the city, especially against storms and epidemics. In 1734 she was proclaimed protector against storms, lightning and epidemics, and in 1821 she received the title of “La Generala”. During the rainy season the image visits parishes across Guadalajara; on 12 October she sets out from the cathedral and returns to her basilica. Feathered dancers with drums walk ahead, while pilgrims follow with candles and flowers. The tradition blends Christian faith with local customs and is an important part of living culture in Jalisco. The date is fixed and does not follow the lunar calendar. The procession comes in autumn, around the end of Mexico's rainy season.
Flying across the sky: An ethereal, bluish-silver procession made of luminous dots and fine lines like a constellation, drifting across the night sky: feathered dancers with drums at the front, followed by pilgrims holding tiny candle-flames and flowers made of stars
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