In 1523, as the story goes,
La Virgen de Guadalupe (the Virgin Mary) appeared to a poor young man in Guadalupe. In honor of this miracle, Mexico celebrates a holiday on 12 December. The Basilica of Guadalupe—the church where her icon is on display—is one of the most visited Catholic shrines in the world. People from all over Mexico walk to the shrine. Some of them walk for a whole week as a tribute to
La Virgen. Those who live very far away take a bus until they are just close enough to still walk a long way to the shrine.