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The Niñopa or Niñopan is the most venerated image of the Child Jesus in the Mexico City borough of Xochimilco. It was created over 430 years ago in the San Bernardino monastery, as part of evangelization efforts. Since then it has been in the possession of the community. Rather than being kept in the parish church it is in the custody of a sponsor or mayordomo, whose family is in charge of the many festivities and traditions associated with the image for a year. These include taking care of the image proper along with taking the image to church and to visit the sick. It also includes sponsoring many parties especially on certain dates such as Candlemas and Day of the Child on April 30. ==The image and names== The Niñopa is the most venerated of Xochimilco’s various important Child Jesus images which include the Niño Dormidito, the Niño de Belén, the Niño Tamalerito, the Niño Grande and the Niño de San Juan.〔 〕 〔 〕〔 〕 The image dates from 1573 and has been in the possession of the town of Xochimilco since.〔 〕 The image is fifty one cm tall and weighs 598 grams. It was designed to be placed seated or lying down. Its right hand is raised as an act of benediction. It has light brown eyes of crystal with black eyelashes. It has a small nose and rounded. The ears are also small but not well defined. The mouth is slightly open as if about to speak with the upper lip a more intense red than the lower. The skin is white and somewhat pink.〔 As the image is over 430 years old, it must be handled with care to keep it from deteriorating. Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) has recommended that the image be dressed only in light clothing with no metal such as zippers or hooks in order to conserve the surface. They also recommend that all photographs be taken without flash and without kissing the image directly, only the clothing.〔 〕 The image has been called by several variations of the name including “Niñopa,” “Niño-pa” and “Niñopan.” According to the municipal historian, Rodolfo Cordero, the name is “Niño-pa” and derives from “niño” (child) and a shortening of “pale” (father) to “pa” with a meaning of Father Child. The alternative “Niñopan” is the Spanish niño (child) with the Nahuatl “pan” (place) meaning “child of the place.” The historian notes that the denotation of “Niñopan” has grown in popularity, surpassing “Niñopa.”〔 Other names include Niño Peregrino (Pilgrim Child) and Niño del Pueblo (Child of the Town/People) .〔 〕 Others state that the real name is “Niñopan” and that “Niñopa” is a mistaken interpretation to mean “Niño Patron” (as in patron saint, which it is not) or Niño Padre, but the image represents the Son of God, not God the Father. Another name for the Niñopa is the Niño Consentido (Well-Cared-For Child) .〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Niñopa」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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