A Virgen de Guadalupe admirer all the way from Switzerland! La Placita Olvera
Oops! Forgot to include these…
Virgen de Guadalupe Feast Day
The word on the streets is the flower market has sold out of all their red roses and if you’re Mexican, you know why. Today is the day Mexicans and Catholics all over the world venerate the one religious figure that can outshine Jesus: La Virgen de Guadalupe. December 12th has always held special memories for me because it is my great-grandmother’s birthday, a woman who long after her death is still remembered to this day at a local Eastside church. She was the founder of the parish Guadalupanas club and celebration feria. As a child, I was always dazzled by the mountains of buñuelos she made in her tiny Eastside kitchen for the yearly carnival/feria. They were so numerous, the piles seemed to reach the ceiling.
While many churches have their individual ceremonies, the biggest celebrations in Los Angeles take place at La Placita Olvera Virgen de Guadalupe shrine. A throng of worshipers crowd the streets around La Virgen’s tiled mural and the flowers and offerings spread out from the altar into the streets. I’m not sure what time the ceremonies start or perhaps they’ve already passed. I’ve spent a few hours looking for details on this important Los Angeles tradition. There’s nothing I could find in the Los Angeles Times but I did find this article from the San Fernando Valley Sun: Celebrating la Virgen de Guadalupe.
Lincoln Heights Christmas Parade
This Sunday, December 14 on North Broadway 11am-1pm. Check it out! (thanks, Julio!)
From the Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council:
Residents of Lincoln Heights take pride in their annual Christmas Parade, which will be held this year on December 14, from 11am to 1pm. Participants will line up at the Department of Motor Vehicles, proceed North on Lincoln Park Avenue, turn West on North Broadway to Avenue 24. At the end, there will be a celebration for the whole community in the parking lot behind the Bank of America with Santa, snow, Christmas gifts, music and food for all. Thousands of spectators are expected to crowd along the Parade route. For over two hours they will be treated to a seemingly endless line of colorful drill teams, dance groups, bands, classic cars, dignitaries and large and small floats. The Miss Taiwan entry will grace an antique fire truck from Fire Station #1.
Please read the comments below for more holiday activities on the Eastside–>>
Other festivities in East L.A.
12/13 Salazar Zumba Christmas Party and Dance 1-4 p.m. Salazar Park Senior Bldg for the aerobic participants and hosted by the Adult Aerobics group.
12/13 The Sheriff’s Adopt-a-Family Food Basket & Toy Giveaway 10-3 p.m.
Belvedere Social Hall
Families to be notified based on financial need and geographical location.
12/13 The East LA Library’s Holiday Boutique sponsored by Los Amigos will be held from Dec. 13 through 20th, benefiting children’s programs at the library.
Donations are welcome.
12/13 Navidad En El Barrio sponsored by VELA at El Gallo Plaza 4545 Cesar Chavez Ave, LA CA 90022 is this year on December 13, 2008 at 3 pm. Contact: Joanne M. Arebalo, VELA/ Director of Programs of Development & Funding 323-263-4462
12/17 Cesar Chavez Merchants Posada 6 pm at 3858 Cesar Chavez (Alisol Flowers) –This posada attracts 750 people
12/18 Eastmont Community Center is hosting its annual Posada Walk and Toy’s for Kids at 6pm.
701 So. Hoefner Ave., LA 90022
12/19, Christmas with Santa Toy Give Away 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Saybrook Park Patio- Toy Giveaway for Afterschool and Tiny Tot participants
12/ 19, Christmas Pot Luck Dinner for City Terrace
6-7:30 p.m.
City Terrace Park Social Hall
Afterschool, Computer Club, Ceramics and Cheer groups will gather to celebrate the holidays.
12 /20 East LA Civic Center Christmas Toy Give Away and Arts and Crafts Booths at 8 am
Civic Center Sponsored by Parks, ISD, Libraries, ELA Chamber, VELA, Amigos.
12/20 Our Lady of Victory Church in Union Pacific will have their Christmas Toy Give away at 8 am on Saturday, December 20, 2008
12/20 City Terrace Coordinating Council Christmas Party
on Rollins Avenue at 10 am corner of City Terrace and Rollins
12/20 Casa De Cultura Saybrook Park Posada and International Day at 10 am to 2 pm
Saybrook park Patio (Gloria Molina Will Attend)
12/20 Christmas Luncheon at Salazar Park Senior Center
hosted by the Salazar Park Seniors at 11 am to 2 pm
12/ 20, Christmas Party with the Belvedere Fishing Club
7-11 a.m. Belvedere Lakeside
Fishing Derby and Toy Giveaway. Open to the public
12/ 20, Christmas Pancake Breakfast
10a.m.- 12 p.m. Eddie Hereida Boxing Club–Club members and their families will celebrate the holidays together at breakfast.
12/ 20, Holiday Luncheon
12-2 p.m. Obregon Park Social Hall
Participants in the Cheer and Afterschool Programs will celebrate the holidays with a luncheon.
12/20 Christmas Luncheon 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Salazar Park Senior Center hosted by the Friends of Salazar for Center volunteers. There will be food and door prizes.
12/20 Winter Wonderland. 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Salazar Park Patio
This community event will feature refreshments, games and stocking giveaway for participants 4-12 years of age.
12/21 ELA Boys and Girls Club Christmas Party Extravaganza Contact: 323-263-4955
12/ 22, Christmas Stocking Giveaway 6-8 p.m.
Saybrook Park Patio is open to the public
I was trying to get to the placita but there was no parking left. Ended up dropping my gf off and then drove to the area near the lofts to wait it out. My leg was hurting something bad, and I was unable to walk, so it was a no-go for me. Afterwards, we ended up going to El Tepeyac Cafe for dinner, and paid respects to the restaurant’s altar. (Not my faith, but…) It was nice that there was a way to be spiritual without getting caught up in the chaos of organized religion. (Today, my leg kept me home from work, wracked with pain. Maybe the virgen is getting revenge on my lack of faith.)