Cancun, Mexico's premier tourist destination, might be one of the last places one would imagine to have Santa Muerte temples and myriad devotees.
Why Would a Belgian Follow Mexican Folk Saint Santa Muerte?
By Guest Contributor Walter M. C. Walgraeve* Devotion to Santa Muerte has been spreading like wildfire across Latin America and parts of North America so it’s not surprising that it also has made the leap over the ocean and has reached Europe. While probably most devotees here will be of Latin American descent, it is … Continue reading Why Would a Belgian Follow Mexican Folk Saint Santa Muerte?
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
Santa Muerte as Religious Resistance – Reflections of a Devotee
The following post from the Devoted to Death Facebook group provides a powerful perspective on current events from a U.S. devotee of Santa Muerte. In this piece Robin Artisson reflects on some of the extreme political changes occurring and what place Saint Death may have in helping to focus these issues for those pushed to … Continue reading Santa Muerte as Religious Resistance – Reflections of a Devotee
¿Es Santa Muerte – el Nuevo Movimiento Religioso de más rápido crecimiento en las Américas – Institucionalizando?
Tanto las fotos como la traduccion del ingles fueron realizadas por la Dra. Fabiola Chesnut, Jefa del Departamento de Lenguas Extranjeras y Bellas Artes de la Escuela Secundaria Huguenot, Richmond, Virginia, y nativa de Morelia, Michoacán. Texto por el Dr. Andrew Chesnut. El día 28/12/16 asistí a la celebración del 9º aniversario de la fundación … Continue reading ¿Es Santa Muerte – el Nuevo Movimiento Religioso de más rápido crecimiento en las Américas – Institucionalizando?
Is the Fastest Growing New Religious Movement in the Americas – Santa Muerte – Institutionalizing?
All photos were taken by Fabiola Chesnut, Chair of Foreign Languages and Fine Arts at Huguenot High School, Richmond, Virginia, and native of Morelia, Michoacan. On 12/28/16 I attended the 9th anniversary celebration of the founding of Templo Santa Muerte Internacional in the gritty Mexico City suburb of Tultitlan.Founded by Jonathan Legaria Vargas, aka Comandante … Continue reading Is the Fastest Growing New Religious Movement in the Americas – Santa Muerte – Institutionalizing?
10 Years of Santa Muerte in NYC
On August 20, 2016, New York City devotional pioneer Arely Vazquez hosted her tenth annual Santa Muerte fiesta in Queens. Joined by the preeminent Santa Muerte leader in Mexico, Enriqueta Vargas of Templo Santa Muerte Internacional, Arely led some 150 devotees in an evening of prayer, song and dance. At first I was surprised by … Continue reading 10 Years of Santa Muerte in NYC
Stash House Goddess: Media Portrayals of Santa Muerte
Certain media outlets, such as Breitbart continue the trend of inaccurate and fear mongering reporting on Santa Muerte (see: 37 Illegal Aliens Found in 'Goddess of Death' Shrine House). As Dr. Andrew Chesnut points out in his Twitter post of this link, neither devotees nor scholars refer to Santa Muerte as a "goddess of death." This report … Continue reading Stash House Goddess: Media Portrayals of Santa Muerte
Game Over: “Madrina” Enriqueta Vargas Oficia el Primer Velorio Estilo Santa Muerte
Los bautismos y las bodas realizados por lideres del culto a la Santa Muerte son cada vez mas comun en Mexico y en los Estados Unidos. Por ejemplo, Enriqueta Vargas, lideresa del Templo Santa Muerte Internacional ya los oficia semanalmente en Tultitlan, en las afueras de la Ciudad de Mexico. Siempre me parecia curioso que … Continue reading Game Over: “Madrina” Enriqueta Vargas Oficia el Primer Velorio Estilo Santa Muerte
Reflections on the First Academic Conference on Santa Muerte
Despite the fact that over 90% of Santa Muerte devotees live in Mexico and the U.S., the first ever academic conference http://www.centroestudiosmexicanos.nl/2014.html dedicated exclusively to the skeleton saint was held in Europe, at the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands, on 11/21/14. Europeans have taken a particular interest in the growth of devotion to Saint … Continue reading Reflections on the First Academic Conference on Santa Muerte
Most Holy Death 