Me encontr茅 con la procesi贸n de la inmaculada concepci贸n de Mar铆a [Es-En]
El lunes fue un feriado interesante, pues marc贸 para muchos el inicio de las festividades navide帽as en la ciudad de Buenos Aires y si bien algunos ya hab铆an empezado a decorar, la mayor铆a comenz贸 el d铆a lunes. Fue como acostarse en una ciudad donde no se sent铆a la magia navide帽a y despertar en otra con luces y decoraciones (Pero de eso les contar茅 en otra publicaci贸n porque estoy recolectando fotos de 谩rboles navide帽os para compartirles).
驴Pero, cu谩l fue el feriado del lunes? El lunes tuvimos el d铆a de la inmaculada concepci贸n de Mar铆a, una celebraci贸n de la iglesia Cat贸lica, y aunque Argentina es un pa铆s multicultural y en ella se respeta la libertad de culto, oficialmente es un pa铆s cat贸lico.
Yo hab铆a salido a pasear para aprovechar que mi esposo tambi茅n ten铆a el d铆a libre y nuestro paseo nos llev贸 hasta la parroquia Inmaculada Concepci贸n de Belgrano, que se encuentra entre Juramento y Vuelta de Obligado. All铆 presenciamos como bajaban a la virgen de la hermita y como el padre dirig铆a unas palabras a la congregaci贸n que esperaba para realizar la procesi贸n.
Se sent铆a un ambiente c谩lido y de mucho respeto, que me record贸 las veces que presenci茅 tradiciones similares en Venezuela, me hizo pensar en mis abuelas, practicantes de la fe cat贸lica, quienes cuando no pod铆an ir a misa recib铆an la palabra a trav茅s de una trasmisi贸n radial.
Me qued茅 un rato acompa帽ando la procesi贸n, entonando los canticos, esos que mis abuelas me ense帽aron o que aprend铆 durante las misas en las que las acompa帽茅; sent铆 nostalgia de mi infancia, pero tambi茅n me sent铆 a gusto entre esas personas que, aunque desconocidos, en teor铆a son mis hermanos en la f茅. Aprovech茅 el instante de conexi贸n espiritual para agradecer por todo lo recibido durante el a帽o, por la salud, el trabajo y la oportunidad de compartir con mis seres amados.
Y aunque no plane茅 participar de esta festividad religiosa, me sent铆 confortada y feliz de poder hacerlo.
Monday was an interesting holiday, as it marked the beginning of the Christmas festivities for many in Buenos Aires. While some had already started decorating, most began on Monday. It was like going to bed in a city where the Christmas magic wasn't felt and waking up in another with lights and decorations (But I'll tell you about that in another post because I'm collecting photos of Christmas trees to share with you).
But what was the holiday on Monday? Monday was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, a celebration of the Catholic Church. And although Argentina is a multicultural country where freedom of religion is respected, it is officially a Catholic country.
I had gone for a walk to take advantage of the fact that my husband also had the day off, and our walk took us to the Immaculate Conception Parish in Belgrano, located between Juramento and Vuelta de Obligado streets. There we witnessed the Virgin being brought down from the chapel and the priest addressing the congregation waiting for the procession.
There was a warm and respectful atmosphere, which reminded me of similar traditions I've witnessed in Venezuela. It made me think of my grandmothers, practicing Catholics, who, when they couldn't attend Mass, received the word through a radio broadcast.
I stayed for a while accompanying the procession, singing the hymns, those that my grandmothers taught me or that I learned during the Masses I attended with them; I felt nostalgic for my childhood, but I also felt at ease among those people who, although strangers, are in theory my brothers and sisters in faith. I took advantage of the moment of spiritual connection to give thanks for everything I had received during the year, for health, work, and the opportunity to share with my loved ones.
And although I hadn't planned to participate in this religious festival, I felt comforted and happy to be able to do so.
Im谩genes de mi autor铆a / Images by me