Commemorations of historical Spanish-language figures

Cultural and spiritual events have been organized to honor the legacies of prominent historical figures in Spain and Mexico.

In Spain, commemorations for San Juan de la Cruz and Santa Teresa de Jesús included a continuous reading of ‘Las Moradas’ in Alba de Tormes. Additionally, Segovia introduced guided tours to mark the Jubilee Year, exploring sites associated with the life of San Juan de la Cruz.

In Mexico, the Universidad del Claustro scheduled events including debates, dance, and music to mark the 375th anniversary of the birth of the poet and philosopher Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. Concurrently, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has confirmed that a book printed in 1622 contains handwritten annotations by the poet.

The volume, a Latin work by fray Juan de Jesús María printed in Cologne, Germany, was identified by Felícitas González Barranco of the National Library of Mexico. Handwriting expert María Guadalupe González Arrieta validated the authorship by comparing the strokes with undisputed documents, such as the poet’s testament. One annotation, dated 1683, provides testimony to the poet’s personal library and reading habits during her life in the convent. The book is currently featured in an exhibition at the Colegio de San Ildefonso.