Santa Muerte

I thought it was time I took a break from the excessive amounts of poetry and film reviews I've being doing and blog about something I actually care about.
Culture, Religion

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Santa Muerte or Saint Death is a sacred figure originating in Mexico which is a syncretism between Mesoamerican and Catholic beliefs.
Saint Muerte is usually depicted as a skeleton with a long robe holding two objects, the scythe and a globe.
Since the pre-Columbian era Mexican culture has maintain there reverence and appreciation of death, as can been seen by the widespread celebration of the Day of the Dead.
To Mexicans, and most other Central and South American people, death is not something to be fearful of, and is not taboo, but instead celebrated. This originated with the beliefs of the Aztecs and Mayans, the original inhabitants of the land.

The cult of Santa Muerte is condemned by the Catholic Church (not surprisingly) but yet rites still include very catholic elements. The use of Holy Water, Crucifixes, Catholic prayers and the iconography of the skeleton to symbolise the mortality of humans. 


The Santa Murte was once an underground cult until recently, with worship only being conducted in the houses of followers. In the past ten years worship has become increasingly public, particularly in Mexico city. Believers are said to have grown to approximately 2 million, spreading into the U.S.

Followers mainly consist of criminals and people of the lower class, as they believe Santa Muerte is not judgmental, and gives hope and blessings to those of a strong and good heart.
Offerings to Saint Death include cigarettes, alcohol and flowers. Worshipers can been seen blowing smoke in the face of Santa Muerte and kissing her feet. Thousands of people, gang lords and house wives alike, pack themselves into churches to pay these tributes and gather blessings.

Many drug lords and gang members have tattoos of the Dark Mother on themselves, uniting there proud Mexican heritage with there Mesoamerican/Catholic beliefs.
I adore this idea of religious pride for the poor and 'criminally involved', I think it will give them moral guidance, or at least the idea of repenting ones sins.

The Mesoamerican ideology of death, to me, is perfect. Death is not to be feared, but embraced. When some has passed, they are not gone, but just not present, they are still part of the family.
Santa Muerte interests me greatly, it seems like an excellent form of faith, and I will certainly examine it closely when I visit Mexico, one day. 


amberlee,
xx