The Mexican national flag and the Virgin of Guadalupe. Identity and symbolism among indigenous people in a Nahua community of the Sierra Norte de Puebla

Abstract

The Mexican national flag, representing the Mexican secular Nation–State, oficially represents the national identity of all Mexican citizens. On the other hand, the Virgin of Guadalupe, belonging to the Catholic religion, is not considered part of the national symbolic system. However we found in the every day life of the indigenous peoples of the Sierra Norte de Puebla in Mexico, that both symbols lead to the construction ofidentities. While the nation-state establishes the oficial secularism of the Nation, in reality we register are unification between religious and national symbolism.