Thousands celebrate Virgen de Guadalupe at the San Juan Basilica [Video]

December 12 is a very important day to the Catholic faith as they celebrate La Virgin de Guadalupe.

The tradition goes back all the way to the year 1531 and there are plenty of ways to celebrate in the Rio Grande Valley.

Catholics believe La Virgin De Guadalupe appeared on four occasions to an indigenous man by the name of Juan Diego on a hill in Mexico City.

A midnight mass kicked off the celebration at the Basilica of our Lady of San Juan del Valle. It will continue with several masses during the day.

Nearly 3,000 people are expected to visit to pay their respects. The first mass began at 6:30 a.m.

The Virgin of Guadalupe is considered the patron saint of Mexico and empress of the Americas. In her appearances to Juan Diego, she asked him to visit the bishop to ask him to build a temple in …