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.

Death Defies Devastating Blaze – Santa Muerte Statue Found Intact at Torched Salvadoran Market

On the night of March 10, 2021, a fire seared through the market of Santa Ana. The only object to be found intact amidst the rubble of the market, was a statue of Santa Muerte.

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.

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

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

Mighty Mexican Mothers: Santa Muerte as Female Empowerment in Oaxaca

As the sole female folk saint of death in the Americas, Santa Muerte has a special appeal to women, especially disprivileged Mexican mothers . In the piece below anthropologist Dr. Kate Kingsbury* considers the contours of devotion among rural women in coastal Oaxaca. -Rural Oaxaca, the outskirts of Pochutla, Mexico When we got home one … Continue reading Mighty Mexican Mothers: Santa Muerte as Female Empowerment in Oaxaca

British Anthropologist Discovers Santa Muerte in Bone-Chilling Toronto

Since going public in 2001 devotion to Santa Muerte has spread rapidly beyond Mexico to the four corners of the globe. In the piece below anthropologist Dr. Kate Kingsbury* reveals the robust presence of the Bony Lady in Toronto, Canada’s largest city.   In the middle of bustling Toronto, Kensington Market offers respite from the … Continue reading British Anthropologist Discovers Santa Muerte in Bone-Chilling Toronto