Thousands gather in Des Plaines for annual Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

CHICAGO - Hundreds of thousands are already beginning to gather for a tradition that dates back about 500 years.

The event in Des Plaines has become the largest one outside of Mexico.

"The Feast of Lady of Guadalupe is the annual celebration of remembering the apparition of the mother of Jesus came to the Americas in 1531," said Rev. Esequiel Sanchez, director of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The two-day celebration and feast in Des Plaines commemorates that appearance of the Virgin Mary to Aztec Indian Juan Diego.

It will be a frigid feast this year.

"We'd have numbers as high as 300,000 people and whether it’s that much or more depends on what goes on with the temperature, but also the temperature of the soul. They’re coming to pray," said Sanchez.

The reverend says people will also open their hearts and pray for strength to deal with challenges.

"The community is very concerned about the language and the verbiage we’re using for immigrants. The language can be a little rough... because they’re always associating immigrants with images of violence or crime," he said. "People are concerned the way they’re going to be treated and what this looks like in the future."

Sanchez said hundreds of thousands will gather in the cold but will be filled with warmth while they celebrate the joy of the holiday.

"A lot of music. There’s food," he said. "It’s just a good experience, this wonderful tradition."