Some matachines groups feature one or more devil or clown figures, who play the part of a character known as "El Viejo" in the dance by the same name. In this dance, "El Viejo" menaces the character of "La Malinche", who is in turned identified somewhat vaguely with the Virgin. This custom predates the so-called "Black Legend of Malinche" which arose near the beginning of the 19th century and gave rise to the terms "malinchista" and "malinchismo". The veneration ofLa Malinche in matachin lore is stark contradiction of the characterization of the consort of the conquistador Hernan Cortez as it is understood today.

The clown or devil figure known as El Viejo of the Grupo Guadalupana

The crowd of pilgrims processes down the Camargo highway towards the Templo de Guadalupe. The float with the children who are dressed as the Virgin and Juan Diego can be seen in the distance.