There are various versions about The Visitor of the Seven Sagrarios. Even this legend of Easter week It is also known as the Lady of the Seven Sagrarios. In the popular imaginary, One of the best known versions is the one that Héctor Gaitán narrates in Legends of Guatemala.
According to Gaitán, The story occurred during a Holy Thursdayin April 1945. According to the author, this is how this legend began, one of the best known of this season: “It was the good times and money ran (…) after eating, Don Enrique came out and saw his wristwatch, calculating the time he had ahead.”
In the rest of the narrative it is told how Don Enrique, who worked as a taxi driver, He had parked near the main door of the General Cemetery from Guatemala City. The gate of the necropolis was closed and, inside, the silence reigned and only distant lights were seen.
When crossing Cemetery Avenue, Don Enrique sat in a parsimonial way inside his vehicle. Because it was a Holy Thursday, he thought it would be a good idea to expect some more races, because some wealthy ladies could visit the Tabernacles, which represented a major income for the taxi driver.
While smoking, listened to fashion melodies on the radio and read press holders. Don Enrique took a look to the street. There was total silence, except for the howl of dogs. When he saw that it was 9.30 pm, he decided to retire, but Then he observed the silhouette of a slender woman who walked very close to the sidewalkon the wall of the general cemetery.
His intuition had not failed, since the lady, with her smile, showed her that she had not waited in vain and would win additional quetzales. When asked where he was heading, she ordered him to go to the tabernacles:
“First, to San Francisco; later, to Calvary; we will continue with the Blessed blesses; we will continue with Capuchinas; we will go down to Santo Domingo, so that we are on the road San José, and we will end in La Merced. But if it is possible to move to the Sagrario in the cathedral, I would appreciate it,” said the young woman.
They went first to Calvary, where the lady was lost between the agglomeration of the Catholics. Then they went to Bethlehem Blessed to repeat the operation, although the lady took a little more. At the end of the tour, Don Enrique asked where she should take her, to which the lady replied: “¿Can leave me where I got?
Don Enrique obeyed the order, but when he expected the payment of the race, the woman apologized, he gave him a gold medal and extended a role with an address, indicating that they would pay the taxi driver.
Don Enrique, motivated by curiosity and not for the need, decided to go to the indicated place. When he arrived, an old woman explained what was happening: “We will gladly pay him. My daughter turns nine days as a deceased, and the medal you give me took her when we buried her.” By showing him the photograph, there was no doubt that it was the passenger he had taken.
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History of The Visitor of the Seven Sagrarios
According to Gaitán’s narration, it is said that Don Enrique lost his reason and died in that state in the Calle Calle and Elena Avenue.
There is more than one version of this legend, although several They are contextualized between the 1940s and 1960ssince reference is made to the use of taxis in the capital city. There are also other versions in which we talk about carriages and not taxi services, so it could also be traced at the end of the 19th century in Guatemala.
According to Carlos Zeceña, Guatemalan director, director and writerthere are historical references of a taxi driver who lived between the 1940s and 1950swho lost reason and remained homeless around the now Railroad Museum. Zeceña mentions that the only thing that he constantly repeated was “the chain” and that he was taken to the old asylum, which caught fire in 1960, according to what is known thanks to the oral tradition of Guatemala.
On the other hand, the historian Walter Gutiérrez affirms that, although the legends themselves have no historicity, they do connect with interesting elements that can be considered as historical references, according to their context.
Other versions of the legend and its importance in the Guatemalan oral tradition
Gutiérrez explains that Legends explain part of our collective consciousness: “It is interesting because it tells the story of a dead person who fulfills a tradition of Vivas. That indicates that the lesson to be given through this legend is respect for traditions,” says Gutierrez.
In that sense, the professional mentions that one of the interesting data It is the emphasis given to the fulfillment of the tradition during the night of Holy Thursdaydate on which the tabernacles are visited in the city.
Another relevant aspect that the historian stands out is the growth of the city of Guatemala, since it is referenced, within the legend, to the expansion of the city towards the general cemetery.
According to Gutiérrez and Zeceña, one of the elements that has allowed the permanence of this legend is that The tradition of Holy Thursday is deeply rooted in the country, especially for the visit to the Tabernacles that takes place during that season.
In addition, Gutiérrez points out that the protagonist of the story is wrapped in a halo of elegance and mysterywhich gives it a particular connotation and facilitates that the legend can adapt to other formats, even through digital platforms.
For its part, Zeceña points out that legends constitute a captive treasure of Guatemalan culture, highlighting that oral tradition in Guatemala is considerably more solid than in other Latin American countries.
The writer adds that this legend reflects the need to meet traditions, which is why This is a history of oral tradition with the potential to last throughout different generations in the country.