Abby describes how she watched, initially a non-believer herself, as her family and the whole community came together to care for a statue of Santa Muerte during a hurricane and eventually built a large chapel that would come to house many statues where la Santa would be celebrated on Day of the Dead and Abby would come to realise she was devoted to death.
Soraya, Santa and Satan: Devotion to Death and the Demon in Hidalgo, Mexico
In the state of Hidalgo resides a witch, Soraya Arredondo, who works with Death and Demon to deliver healing to everyone from babies to sex-workers.
Santa Muerte of Health and Wealth – Photo-Essay from the Cancun Temple of the Skeleton Saint
Cancun, Mexico's premier tourist destination, might be one of the last places one would imagine to have Santa Muerte temples and myriad devotees.
In the Valley of the Shadow of Death – A Santa Muerte Devotee in New Mexico
Mother’s Day is upon us, I have always had respect for la Virgen de Guadalupe, she like Santa Muerte carries sorrow, peace and love. But I connect with Santa Muerte because I have sat among death. I have watched Santa Muerte come and whisk someone away.
The Goddess of Death Protects Me: A Santa Muerte Devotee in Mexico City
In this interview with a Mexican devotee of Santa Muerte who lives in Mexico City, he tells us about the Goddess of Death that protects him and his tattoos in honour of her.
Unholy Death – Catholic Condemnation of Santa Muerte
According to the Roman Catholic Church, Santa Muerte and the Catholic faith are two distinct beliefs and practices, or one follows the Mexican folk saint of death, or one follows the church. The pope, bishops and priests have stated this already frequently for years now.
Photo-shoot of Santuario de la Santa Muerte in Queretaro, Mexico
In late December 2020 I had the opportunity to visit the most elaborate Santa Muerte temple in the central Mexican state of Queretaro. There is an impressive array of images, many handcrafted. In contrast to the temple in Santa Ana Chapitiro, Michoacan, this one has a more masculine vibe. In fact during my visit I … Continue reading Photo-shoot of Santuario de la Santa Muerte in Queretaro, Mexico
The Materiality of Mother Muerte in Michoacan
The Tangibility of Devotion to Saint Death Photo Essay by Professor R. Andrew Chesnut and Doctor Kate Kingsbury, All photos and text copyrighted. Do not use without permission of authors. Despite the Church's insistence that Santa Muerte is satanic and that her devotees are heretics most Mexican Santa Muerte devotees consider themselves Catholic. They see … Continue reading The Materiality of Mother Muerte in Michoacan
At Death`s Door in Cancun:Â Meeting Santa Muerte Witch Yuri Mendez
All images, content and writing are copyrighted and exclusive property of the website owners, editors and writers. It is forbidden to use them without permission. By Anthropologist, Dr. Kate Kingsbury, D.Phil Oxford University. Yuri Mendez is a self-identified witch (bruja) and shaman (curandera) who ten years ago following a dream of Santa Muerte established the … Continue reading At Death`s Door in Cancun:Â Meeting Santa Muerte Witch Yuri Mendez
Emerging Scholar Seeks Funding Support for Cutting-Edge Research on Santa Muerte as Agent of Female Empowerment
As an adjunct professor of anthropology Dr. Kate Kingsbury is not eligible for most research funding that is available to permanent and tenured professors so she has launched a Go Fund Me campaign to raise funds from individual contributors. Many readers of Skeleton Saint are already familiar with her incisive work that focuses on the … Continue reading Emerging Scholar Seeks Funding Support for Cutting-Edge Research on Santa Muerte as Agent of Female Empowerment
Most Holy Death 