Who is santa muerte

Hotel Boutique Casa Bella. Mayan Sun Bed and Breakfast. MO17 Hotel Boutique. Clandestino Hotel - Adults Only. Quinta Real Acapulco. Casa Carmen Morelos. Cartesiano Urban Wellness Center. Hotel de la Soledad. Casa del Rector Hotel Boutique. Also known as the Bony Lady, the followers of Santa Muerte say her appeal lies in her non-judgemental nature and her supposed ability to grant wishes in return for pledges or offerings. It's not a satanic Mass," says Mr Santana, a lifelong devotee who has officiated at Santa Muerte temples across Mexico since According to Andrew Chesnut, author of Devoted to Death: Santa Muerte, the Skeleton Saint, this is the fastest growing religion in the Americas, with an estimated 10 to 12 million followers worldwide.

Mr Chesnut says more and more devotees have started incorporating Santa Muerte into Day of the Dead celebrations over the past five years. Although many Mexicans see no connection between the two, both are thought to stem from Mictecacihuatl, an Aztec goddess who presided over a festival of death every August.

After conquering Mexico in the 16th Century, the Spanish encouraged locals to honour the deceased on All Soul's Day, leading to the emergence of the Day of the Dead as a fusion of Catholic and indigenous beliefs.

Mr Chesnut says devotees have begun to recognise Santa Muerte as the reincarnation of Mictecacihuatl and reclaim the Day of the Dead as her unofficial feast day, provoking what he says is a "huge panic" within the Catholic Church. The Vatican has repeatedly denounced Santa Muerte in the lead up to the Day of the Dead in recent years, while Catholic bishops in the United States joined in the condemnation for the first time this year.

Attendees will bring offerings such as tequila, beer, cigarettes, traditional snacks and flowers for Santa Muerte and deceased friends and family.

JSTOR is a digital library for scholars, researchers, and students. An altar for Santa Muerte. By: Livia Gershon. October 5, October 7, Share Tweet Email Print. Weekly Newsletter. Have a correction or comment about this article? Please contact us. Mexico religion Archives de sciences sociales des religions. The Aztecs worshipped Mictecacihuatl , a female skeleton that personified death.

These indigenous beliefs fused with European Christianity with time and changed, creating folk religions such as the cult of Santa Muerte. Some worshippers of Santa Muerte remain Catholic, while others create separate churches to worship the "Saint.

Shrines to Santa Muerte often include gifts to the "Saint," such as flowers, fruits, incense, candies, coins, candles, and alcoholic beverages. Santa Muerte is supposedly very powerful and grants many favours and miracles. She is often invoked as a saint of the night and a few of those that work dangerous jobs at night worship her for protection. Figures of Santa Muerte are often made to pray to, and the colours of her robes differ depending on the reason for invocation.

White robes represent cleansing and purity. Red robes represent love and passion. Gold robes represent money, success, and prosperity.