On February 2 of every year, during a huge celebration, the Niño...READ ON
On February 2 of every year, during a huge celebration, the Niño passes into the hands of a new Majordomo (custodian) who will take care of the Niño for the year to come. Mariachis and dancers are an integral part of this process.
Niñopa always leaves home preceded by dancers and musicians....READ ON
Niñopa always leaves home preceded by dancers and musicians. Niñopa holds a very busy schedule of excursions and visits throughout the year. The Majordomo is responsible to make all the events happen and pays for all the dancers, musicians and transportation of the Niñopa and his entourage to and from various locations.
Niñopa and various replicas may be purchased in religious markets...READ ON
Niñopa and various replicas may be purchased in religious markets through Mexico City. It is a sign of faith to protect and hold Baby Jesus.
Emotions among worshipers of Niñopa can run very high.
Niñopa is protected by women who surround him to prevent zealous...READ ON
Niñopa is protected by women who surround him to prevent zealous worshipers from touching and handling him directly. Niñopa cannot be touched because he is a 430 years old religious relic and to prevent structural damage, the doll can only be handled by gloved hands and under subdued light. These protectors wear uniform clothes that changes from event to event and forcefully protect Niñopa.
Young and old want to see Niñopa up close and it is always an...READ ON
Young and old want to see Niñopa up close and it is always an emotional encounter to see Baby Jesus and touch his clothes.
A worshiper solemnly kisses Niñopa's garment and is very happy to...READ ON
A worshiper solemnly kisses Niñopa's garment and is very happy to be able to be as close as possible to him and be blessed.
Niñopa is a 430 years old relic doll that represents the Baby Jesus....READ ON
Niñopa is a 430 years old relic doll that represents the Baby Jesus. He was created in 1577 and is made out of wood from a tree called Colorín or coral tree. It is 51cm long and weights 598 grams.
Jorge Serralte Huerte's father placed his and his wife's name on the...READ ON
Jorge Serralte Huerte's father placed his and his wife's name on the waiting list to receive Niñopa some 35 years ago. After he passed away, Jorge appeared before the Niñopa Commission and requested that his name be replaced by that of his father. The Commission agreed and so in February 2019, he became the Majordomo. Early morning, each day, Jorge dresses the Niño and brings him down from his bedroom to place him in his home's living room which has been cleared to serve as a house of worship for the year.
A worshiper holds a sculpture representing the Virgin Mary during the...READ ON
A worshiper holds a sculpture representing the Virgin Mary during the procession to the 16th Century San Bernardino de Siena Church in Xochimilco. On this day, the old 2018 Majordomo will hand the Niño to the new Majordomo.
A woman holding a replica of Niñopa waits her turn to have herself and...READ ON
A woman holding a replica of Niñopa waits her turn to have herself and her replica doll be blessed by the Niño.
A worshiper is humbled in the presence of the Niño.
A poster of Jesus Christ adorns the outside area of the 16th Century San...READ ON
A poster of Jesus Christ adorns the outside area of the 16th Century San Bernardino de Siena Church in Xochimilco.
Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes greets the people after having blessed the new...READ ON
Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes greets the people after having blessed the new Majordomo and placed Niñopa into the hands of Jorge Serralte Huerte who is the 2019 Custodian of Niñopa.
At the cathedral, alter boys and girls wait for the arrival of the Cardinal...READ ON
At the cathedral, alter boys and girls wait for the arrival of the Cardinal and the Niñopa.
Jorge Serralte Huerte straightens Niñopa's dress in his living...READ ON
Jorge Serralte Huerte straightens Niñopa's dress in his living room which has been turned into a worship room for the year Niñopa will stay at his house. Fourteen years ago, when he remodeled the house, his anticipated the arrival of Niñopa in 2019 and built the house having in mind the needs of the Niño. Worshipers come early morning before heading onto work to see the Niño.
A man holds a Papier-mâché sculpture to be used during the celebrations.
During the Day of the Child (Día Del Niño), fireworks and bags...READ ON
During the Day of the Child (Día Del Niño), fireworks and bags of candy are interwoven in sculptures made out of papier mâché. A handler runs through the crowd while fireworks are going off on these sculptures. The explosions scatter pieces of candy around and adults and children have to find their way to them amidst all the fireworks going off around them. It's chaotic nature is both dangerous and exhilarating.
Teenagers show off their machismo by taking their shirts off during the...READ ON
Teenagers show off their machismo by taking their shirts off during the celebration in which fireworks goes off among the crowd. Some get injured but they accept it to be the price to be paid for their masculinity.
Niñopa and various replicas may be purchased in religious markets...READ ON
Niñopa and various replicas may be purchased in religious markets through Mexico City. It is a sign of faith to protect and hold Baby Jesus.
A man watches the Niñopa's parade go by while getting a shoe shine.
Worshipers and onlookers watch the festive parade in hope of seeing Niñopa up close.
Every night at the home of Niñopa worshipers gather for the Rosaries....READ ON
Every night at the home of Niñopa worshipers gather for the Rosaries. It is the Majordomo's responsibility to provide the space for the crowd to gather. The crowd often spills into the street and the traffic comes to a stand still until the end of the worship.
Following the mass at the 16th Century San Bernardino de Siena Church in...READ ON
Following the mass at the 16th Century San Bernardino de Siena Church in Xochimilco, Niñopa leaves the premises surrounded by his protectors and the Majordomo's hand picked agent to carry the Niño.
Musicians are omnipresent at all events around Niñopa.
Worshipers attend mass with Niñopa at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Musicians are omnipresent at all events around Niñopa.
Neighbors take an active role in taking care of the Niñopa's...READ ON
Neighbors take an active role in taking care of the Niñopa's needs. Here, friends and neighbors help the Niño getting into a vehicle to go visit a poor neighborhood about an hour away from Xochimilco.
2019 Majordomo, Jorge Serralte Huerte, carries the Niñopa out of the...READ ON
2019 Majordomo, Jorge Serralte Huerte, carries the Niñopa out of the church shortly after having officially become the custodian.
A ribbon indicating official Majordomo.
To protect Niñopa's privacy, photography in his bedroom is...READ ON
To protect Niñopa's privacy, photography in his bedroom is forbidden. After obtaining special permission from the Majordomo, this photograph was taken with permission which shows the crib in which Niñopa sleeps every night and partially shows his wardrobe.
A boy places some balloons and makes final touches on the wall above a garden...READ ON
A boy places some balloons and makes final touches on the wall above a garden specially made for Niñopa.
Xochimilco, the southern borough of Mexico City, is home to a 430-year-old image of Child Jesus (or NiñoDios) called Niñopa or Niñopan. Each year a family is given the honor of housing and caring for the NiñoDios. On February 2 of each year the community of Xochimilco celebrates as Niñopa transitions to his new home for the year.
Sometime in the 16th Century, a tradition took root in Mexico in the form of an image representing NiñoDios or Child Jesus. This image took various forms and various names, but oldest and most venerated is found in the Mexico City southern borough of Xochimilco. The Child Jesus of Xochimilco, Niñopa or Niñopan, was created some 430 years ago in the communities San Bernardino Monastery. Unlike many church relics, Niñopa is placed in the possession of the community instead of being kept secured in a Church facility. Each year a new family, or Mayordomo, is selected to take custody of the Image and sponsor various events throughout the year. Despite the demands of being a Mayordomo, some families have waited as long as 50 years have the honor of taking custody of the image.
73-year-old Gloria Medina waited over thirty years to become the Mayordoma in 2018. On February 2, 2019 she passed on her sponsorship to the new Mayordomo, the Serralde Huerta family. During the transition, Cardinal Carlos Aguiar took the Niño from Ms. Medina and placed it into the hands of the Jorge Serralde Herta who had waited 35 years for the honor. Jorge's father placed the family's name on the list of the hopefuls but then he passed away a few years ago, and Jorge had to present himself before the Commission and request that the privilege be transferred to him.
The tradition imposes several significant responsibilities on the Majordomos. First, the physical responsibility of this fragile 430-year-old Image is one that cannot be overlooked. The Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia (INAH) has provided strict guidelines on the handling of the Niño which includes guidelines about the dresses of the image (which are not to include any buttons or hard material that can come in contact with the body), sheltering from direct sunlight and flash photography, and general guidelines about the handling of the image when taken to excursions or when the public come to it for blessings. Additionally, INAH provides a “pediatrician” service once a year to make sure the Niño remains in good condition.
Second, the Mayordomo is responsible for the presentation, either public or private, of the Niño for various religious events. These events may occur at the home of the Mayordomo or at specific locations. The Niñopa is a busy child; responsibilities include visiting the poor, the sick, and orphanages where he brings his blessings. The Mayordomo is also responsible for sponsoring various parties and religious events by providing food for all attendees. The nightly Rosary is always at the Majordomo's home and open to the public—in fact, anytime the Niño is in the home, the home must be open to the public who can come and go freely. Jorge Serralde who is the current Majordomo (2019) had his responsibilities in mind when he built his home and had an additional alcove built for worshipers to have a space to be and built an additional space for the placement of the Niñopa during his stay at Jorge's home.
Despite these serious obligations, Ms. Medina says that during the year of her being the Mayordoma, “[her] faith grew and [she] learned a lot of things” and that the entire process has brought her closer to the Niño. Living and caring for the Niño for an entire year provided a different and more intimate relationship with her faith and with the Niño, versus other expressions of her faith.