As a Mexican myself, I have to add from my personal experience, that the Santa Muerte in Mexico is usually considered a taboo for those that do not worship her. It is something people try to avoid talking about, and in my family for example as Catholics we were told that venerating her was against God and all our values as Christians, and that is is similar to witchcraft and black magic, in the sense that it is something that people resort to when they are asking for something which God cannot help you with...most frequently bad things like harming others. It is usually associated with people living in very marginalized environments, in dangerous neighborhoods or slums surrounded by crime, violence, poverty and really tough conditions for living. Outside those places, there are few people who worship her, and almost all of them do it in secret, and it can be a scandal when there are rumors of someone from a "Good family" praying to Santa Muerte. We really almost never talk about her, and we tend to pretend it doesn´t exist, and live our lives without thinking much about it, and for that reason, it usually gets us by surprise when someone talks about her or we see an image of her... Must people will interpret this as a sign that they are dealing with a dangerous place or a dangerous person. If for example you are in a taxi and the driver has an image of her, you may feel uncomfortable, or if you get lost and end up finding a street chapel of the Santa Muerte, you may want to get out of there immediately. I personally don´t see any problem with people who pray to her, but it is what it is.
I've known many folks from Southern Mexico and Guatemala and those people are serious about their folk religion. They are real devotees. These local, folk "saints" have been part of indigenous religion for many centuries in one form or another.
@@BeatrizMartinez-dy3oy the white people indoctrinated our people and forced their saints on us in the past so it looked as if our ancestors prayed to saints but we still had our deity’s that we venerated through them like el Santo niño or the baby saint El Niño de Ochoa is elegua or legba the deity hes the guardian of the crossroads and he loves child things candy and toys and sweets he’s an older man who’s very loving …. nothing in our tradition is pagan or Wiccan were Santeros… Paganism is Scottish/Irish folklore forest plant glitter deity stuff with no fundamental base a rip off of other belief systems They have to make a offering to call spirits that’s more a Caucasian thing… in this you have to be blood to be here they have to choose you it’s more bloodline passed down and it’s not lazy an alter is serious stuff you don’t just go to church, it consists of praying and speaking to spirit feeding and venerating ancestors at least an hour or 2 a day you gotta live like a good person and operate well for your soul to be able to be free in death like the ones before you and you too will be honored in death bc we’re all gods…. But you have to live right You can’t just go to church and pray and still be a bad person. Here, you’re held very accountable.
Your emphasis on Santa Muerte being a folk saint worshipped by all strata of society reminded me a lot of similar Chinese folk heroes venerated in traditional folk religion. Unlike Daoism and Buddhism, which are more systemized religions, and Confucianism, a philosophy, folk religions in China are similar to the decentralized beliefs you describe in this video. In particular, one figure named Guan Yu, is worshipped by all kinds of groups in society, most notably by gangs and triads as well as the police force. You can see statues of him everywhere in cities with a lot of criminal activity such as Hong Kong or Chongqing, but also in business offices, street vendor stalls, and family shrines. A video covering the different aspects of Chinese folk religion would be fascinating.
My favourite Chinese restaurant in my town has a really cool statue of Guan Yu on display behind the counter. It's a detailed wood carving. I see statues of him in businesses in Montreal's Chinatown too. Once you know how he's traditionally portrayed, with the polearm and long beard, he's easy to recognize.
There are indeed some similarities between Chinese and Mexican cultures, although they are very far apart from each other. Qingming is also somewhat similar to the Mexican Day of the Dead. Although Chinese don't like mentioning death and celebrate it in such an extravagant way
That's kinda how christianity was back then in ancient Rome. Christians were labelled atheists necromancers that sacrificed children and ate human flesh on sinister rituals they did on the catacombs
Wrong. That’s just a horrible comparison to make. You don’t go praying to Jesus asking for bad things in life since he was never associated with doing anything wrong. You go to folk saints to do that. Sure italian mobs ain’t living sinless lives like Jesus but they know better than to pray to God for money, fame or outright wanting someone killed. Lol outrageous
Most Early Christians and Jesus’s followers were persecuted poor people Ancient Roman society in poverty, slavery, and criminals. The fact that Santa Muerte is popular amongst people in poverty that are desperate is very similar and analogous to Jesus Christ being the preferred savior god for Roman Catholics that were attacked by Roman Italians that hated christ
Funny that you mentioned those, exactly my thoughts while watching this video. He just recently made a video on the afro-American religions such as 'voodoo' which share lots similarities with candomblé and umbanda. You definitely should check it out
I was thinking the same. This familiarity that people use to refer to Santa Muerte, with nicknames and etc, and the offerings of tobacco and alcohol, etc are so similar to the relationship between people in Brazil and the Exus, Pomba Giras and Caboclos.
I’ve been to her main shrine in Mexico City a couple times. It is in a spooky part of town. Birds inside chirp and make noise. Devotees bow down at an altar and pray, lighting cigarettes and bringing her soda pop as offerings. They ring a bell when they are done. A lady will prepare you an figurine with birdseed, soda, perfume and cover it with cigar smoke for a small fee.
La Santa Muerte has a HUGE following here in Chicago. She is everywhere. I also spent time in Argentina and their folk saints are fascinating as well--For example, they have San La Muerte (a male deity that's different from the female Mexican Santa Muerte) and Gauchito Gil (who was a devotee of San La Muerte). They're both extremely popular, particularly in the interior of the country where a higher percentage of the population has indigenous roots.
@@Bicicletasaladas nearly every culture has some type of supernatural death being. The version talked about is native to Mexico. Chicago has a huge mexican community which is why it's so popular here.
In Argentina we also have the very important Difunta Correa (you may have seen piles of water bottles on the road). We use to call them "popular saints" intead of "folk". The santification process is seen partly in more contemporary examples like Eva Peron, Gilda, Rodrigo Buenos or Diego Maradona.
Great video ! In Argentina we have our own version known as San La Muerte and it too has bad press and a simplified bad image (something shared with African inspired religions like Umbanda and Santeria), usually associated with marginalized lifestyles, criminality and prison. For anyone interested, all Latinoamerica is really rich in religious syncretism and folk religiosity. From Venezuela's Cortes (pantheons of historical and mythical figures, each one with its own dominion) to Argentina's Gauchito Gil (a Robin Hood-like figure who after been caught and executed became one of the most well-known and venerated popular saints)
As a Mexican-American, I grew up seeing images of Santa Muerte in devotional candles and statues for sale at local Mexican markets in Wisconsin of all places! My mother warned me against her saying that "while she'll grant you anything, it will always come with a price" and that she's a "jealous saint" who punishes those who worship others before her. I see her very much as described here: an amoral entity that reflects the worshippers themselves. She's quite popular among many in the LGBT community in Mexico and in Mexican-American circles since Catholic institutions often turn us away. As more and more people see their situations as desperate and turn to anything for survival, veneration of la santísima muerte will only continue to grow
@@Bicicletasaladas there's definitely an element to that. However, it's important to remember that the Catholic church in Mexico uses the same tactics. We just turn a blind eye as they're more established.
As a Catholic-raised Mexican I was usually taught to believe Santa Muerte was only adored by criminals or bad lower class people (extreme prejudices) or had an inherent evil that didn’t really deserve mainstream attention, but I once discovered a modest altar to Santa Muerte in a sweetheart’s home, and couldn’t believe this “normal” family adored Santa Muerte 😬 I’ll never forget that, really opened my mind to the underground belief diversity in Mexico City
She is not of the divine light. Just because people don't look low class while following her doesn't mean she isn't bad she literally steals your soul and you can't go back from worshiping her
@@the_flyingdino3445 My mom knew a person who’s mother worshiped Santa muerte and the daughter said the family was seeing a dark cloud that hovered the moms home that only they could see, I don’t trust worshiping a dark entity.
There is a Santa Muerte that is enshrined in a legitimate Catholic Church in the Philippines. It is made out of ivory and is brought to the Philippines about 150 years ago. It was probably based on Mexican Santa Muerte. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, however, deny that the two are related ang reasoned out in a televised interview that the interpretation of the two saints and the religious representations are different.
Santa Muerte is super interesting. I didn't know that the public veneration of her was such a recent phenomenon. Obviously there was a spiritual need among the population for a character like her, since the movement grew so quickly.
@@j.2512 Not every person outside your little in-group is a criminal. Criminals are people who commit crimes. Crimes are "breaking laws". It is not a crime to believe differently from you.
Can I just say, the way you opened the video was perfect. No plugs, no unnecessary into, or any formalities. You really drew me in by mentioning Breaking Bad and Ghost Recon. Bravo.
Wait, there's one prominent Santa Muerte scholar called Chestnut, and another one called Castañeda, also meaning chestnut? Whoever is running the simulation is getting laaaaaaaazy.
@@danielgadomski5129 not right now but i think they feel good and have nearly 0% chance of sustaining nerve damage. 🎶stroke-proof & heart-attack proof, but i still cain't put my head through-the-roof💨👺
I’m from a town in the Midwest w/ a huge Mexican immigrant population and tho I don’t live near where a majority of that population lives, I’ve seen a lot of iconography of Santa Muerte. She was my first exposure to saints in general since I didn’t grow up Catholic and I always liked her, even when I didn’t really understand her or what she stood for past her association with death.
Being from northern Mexico I just want to lay out that you dont really see nor hear much about the cult of La Santa Muerte around here, it is mostly a centern/southern development and as far as the circles and places I frequent, I have yet to meet or see any believer or shrine. Iconography is found but, in my city it is mostly understood just as a fun representation of Death that feels very mexican and authentic, specially in relation to the Dia de los Muertos celebration, not much else.
Not 100% true. In Sinaloa I drove along a road that had around 5/6 Santa muerte shrines spaced out from one another. It’s definitely not the strongest saint in the north but there will always be followers to venerate; even in small numbers. I would personally vote against it. Especially in a state like Sinaloa where people often just need any excuse to pull the trigger. Preferably, Jesus would do a lot more good.✌🏼
In Houston, TX you will see many cars with bumper stickers or signs of Santa Muerte on the cars. You can also find candles to her in Mexican supermarkets. It’s really wide spread
I had always assumed it was a recent offshoot of catholicism, but seeing it as a holdout of pre Columbian religion is really interesting. It's a good example of the resilience of a culture.
As a Buddhist, I find this phenomeon very intriguing. On the one hand, the personification of death, or "Māras" as we call them, tend to be evil. The one who was adversary to the Buddha was also known as "Pāpīyan" or "the sinful one." On the other hand, there is a story that an Indian monk managed to convert the Buddha's Māra to Buddhism, which suggests his role as a potential guardian to the faith. It would seem that the "morality" of death is largely dependent on circumstance.
This is the take on Buddhist theology that you get from skimming a Wikipedia entry and calling it good. "Māras" is not the personification of death. Mṛtyu-māra is Māra _as_ death but that's not the same thing as being just some religious placeholder for death - there is more to it than that. Death is neutral in Buddhism.
To anyone not familiar with different forms and practices within buddhism, (ahem^^ you guys) this may seem off base, but you just don't have the knowledge to understand it.
It wasn't mentioned in the video, probably because the subgroup is quantitatively insignificant, but there is a (arguably, growing) school within Santa Muerte devotion that has fully divorced her from Catholicism and views her as a true amoral deity or as a reincarnation of the old mesoamerican death gods. This sect has already established temples or shrines in parts of the United States and is developing a structure.
@@TrafficPartyHatTest La Santa Muerte: Unearthing the Magic & Mysticism of Death by Tomas Prower touches (like lays a fingertip) on it. You'll mostly hear about deistic devotees by word of mouth, and they'll most likely be millennials or Gen-Z devotee-practitioners. I only know one other person, but that person knows a few other people, who also know a few other people all spread out, not in each other's local vicinity. Until a larger following develops, it will be a fringe movement.
I wish people would recognize Santa Muerte devotion as a modern manifestation of indigenous Mexican religion, and not something associated with violence
@@JimmyNails27 why is it people always want to associate religions from latin america with violence. santeria, vodou, santa muerte, etc. it's just a tired racist trope. the existence of christian and muslim extr*mists doesn't mean those religions are violent, likewise with Santa Muerte devotion.
@@11mazatl Its not really in the broad sense, that being, Aztecs captured people typically in battle or the sacking of cites, and mass scarified them. IN modern views this is considered bad. Santeria has blood sacrifice, Vodou and its practices of using it to cause harm. santa muerte exists as it does due to the rather poor and violent state of Mexico.
@@11mazatl I guess the issue is not the Religion on itself but who it appeals to, it's kind of natural that people who are constantly facing death and risking their life would feel a stronger connection with the personification of death, it's a more cynic view on Catholicism
@Malcolm X Cual genocidio? Fueron los gobiernos que hicieron todo eso no la iglesia. Si la misma iglesia ha peleado por los derechos de los más vulnerables.
“Death doesn't discriminate Between the sinners And the saints It takes and it takes and it takes…”-Aaron Burr from the song "Wait for It" in the musical Hamilton by Lin Manuel Miranda
Santa Muerte also plays a prominent role in 'Penny Dreadful: City of Angels'! In the show, she functions not only as a venerated deity, but also a character with stakes in the overarching story. Highly recommended! I've been wanting to learn more about her since I saw the show so, to both you and Dr. Kingsbury, thank you for this explainer!
Even golem and the Kabbalah mysticism powering it has no resemblance to the deep spiritual rot symbolized by the worship of this demon. Golem of legend was a machine powered by energies derived from God to protect the Jewish community when called upon to do so. No Jew ever even venerated a golem.
Not quite. Unlike other types of gods or beings worshipped, Santa muerte is your death and your fate, and as such, yours to bargain with. You may worship her but in the end it's all about you. It is very spiritual but also very non secular. A golem is an idol, most gods are an experience, but muerte is a reality
@@benrichards8987 as I said, now Jew would ever worship a golem. Anyone who calls himself Christian and has recourse to demon-worship is lying to himself.
@oaktree_ death is evil, demonic. No one gets to bargain with death but in fairy tales. Christ has already narrowed hades and deprived death of power though. Pagans still live under its thrall. Too bad for them.
My mother in law was (I mean she is still alive but my husbando is death so...) a Santa Muerte devotee and she was told that you can practice devotion to Santa Muerte from every religious ritual you would like because "la huesuda" doesn't discriminate. The idea of non-discrimination is very interesting because Mexico is a very racist country, the type of life you would get depends a lot on the color of your skin and other social determinants; also it's very common for undocumented migrants because they know the will be discriminated in USA so they need someone who wouldn't discriminate by their side. In a country with a lot of machismo it's very understandable that they look for a non discriminative group.
I love not being afraid of the unknown. Don’t know how people could just immediately turn a blind eye at this stuff, it’s culture and it’s beautiful no matter your background. Very mind opening as well
@@11kravitzn La Muerte cult is huge where i live. i have talked to dozens of followers and they confirm, she's a favors god. also that's what was said in the video. over and over he mentioned how unrestrictive the god is and people ask her for anything. i was speaking from experience.
It is quite interesting to me that the brief description of the veneration of Santa Muerte lines up almost word for word with how Shiva is venerated in Hinduism. Obviously, this is a gross simplification on my part, and the two cultures are a world apart (both literally and metaphorically), so it is exceedingly unlikely that either influenced the other in any significant way. I think this is a great example of "convergent evolution" within human social structures (as opposed to convergent evolution seen in biological contexts).
Interestingly enough, Shiva is among with Ganesh perhaps the most popular deity of Hinduism in Mexico. Even though there are very few people who actually practice Hinduism in Mexico, Shiva is extremely common to find in the esoteric world and in Mexican magic. His image is constantly worship and used by many who claim to practice different forms of sorcery and witchcraft through a sincretism of different deities of the world. I have found a lot of candles, cards, images and small statues of Shiva in different esoteric bookstores and markets. I have no idea why this is the case though.
@@caraxes_noodleboi this is because of Spanish and Sanskrit's shared lineage from Proto-Indo-European. ETA: "From Proto-Indo-Iranian *mr̥tyúš (“death”), from Proto-Indo-European *mer- (“to die”). Cognate with Avestan 𐬨𐬆𐬭𐬆𐬚𐬌𐬌𐬎 (mərəθiiu), Old Persian 𐎶𐎼𐏁𐎡𐎹 (m-r-š-i-y /məršiyu/), Lithuanian mirtis, Latin mors." -Wiktionary. From "mors (singular accusative form "mortem") derives Spanish/Castilian "muerte".
I like this popular veneration of an 'unofficial' saint, especially as she is popular amongst the poor and marginalised in society. It's religion at its best imo.
@@KarmaKraftttt before she was santa muerte, she was Mictecacíhuatl AKA "goddess of death" sounds similar but the name itself is still the same she represents "death" stop hating, you catholic and the church has pagan roots "before our ancestors" pray to "God"
Love videos of this part of the world. I’ve been doing a deep dive of the people I’d call my ancestors; this channel has been a big part of this rabbit hole haha
This is similar to Saint Bridget, an Irish Saint which is actually a reimagining of the Celtic goddess of the same name, associated with motherhood and women
Thank you for the video! I went from Catholic to atheist to devotee of santa muerte over my life and she has been a benevolent force in my life who sees me through rough times and grants me opportunities. I still buy a new statue every time I go from unemployed to employed as a thank you to her. When something good happens to me, I thank her. When something bad happens to me, I thank her for sparing me from an even worse fate. ♥ :)
I find the devotion to Santa Muerte to be endlessly fascinating. An face of religion different from how we normally think of it. Thanks for covering this topic.
@@bluellamaslearnbeyondthele2456 Pretty much, I believe that it has risen with the weakness present in the current Catholic Church to enforce proper teaching as well as the societal clusterfuck lingering over Latin America, it sadly shows the ignorance to Christianity held by much of the population who are easily attracted to these “alternatives” for selfish and desperate measures.
I still remember the first time I saw the big statue thing in Ecatepec, I thought it was a haunted house! It's somewhat difficult to approach anyone who is devoted to La Santa Muerte because in my experience, they are very fanatic or, usually into very bad stuff. I was surprised to learn more from this channel than from folks back home!
Something usually missing from the scholar explanation of Santa Muerte is the mention of esoteric practices beyond the external devotion. Many devotees practice some kind of magical system, often based on hermetic philosophies. When you said (I'm paraphrasing) that many devotees see Santa Muerte as a supernatural version of themselves, this is in line with the hermetic principles. Magic practices around Santa Muerte come from different sources such as shamanism, curanderismo, spiritism, paganism, folk Catholicism, Mexican brujeria, African religions, European esoterism. Through magical practices, practitioners attempt to access the divinities directly rather than through an intermediary such as a priest or pastor. Practitioners not only try to obtain favors or miracles, but also balance in their lives, understanding of their role in the world and a better relationship with life and death.
Super interesting video! It never ceases to amaze me how local tradition manages to meld with christianity, creating either a synergic faith or creates a whole new belief system.
@@LenaFerrari the teachings of Jesus Christ traced back to the first century AD. The Catholic church was established in the fourth Century AD. And the teachings of the Catholic Church are completely different than that of Jesus Christ. In fact in the year 1229 the Catholic Church banned the Bible. They follow something that Jesus Christ didn't thought. Therefore, the Catholic church is not a form of Christianity.
@@carloswater7 it's officially considered a form of Christianity. And they follow their interpretation of Jesus teachings. No, they did not ban the Bible lol, where did you get that idea from? They still use the Bible. Just because you disagree with their interpretation of Jesus' thoughts doesn't mean they aren't Christians. And, unless you are orthodox catholic, your Christian religion is probably a derivative of the catholic church anyways
@@LenaFerrari that's just your opinion. It's not a form of Christianity. Yes the Catholic Church did ban the Bible. Here's the proof Decree of the Council of Toulouse (1229 C.E.): "We prohibit also that the laity should be permitted to have the books of the Old or New Testament; but we most strictly forbid their having any translation of these books." Ruling of the Council of Tarragona of 1234 C.E.: "No one may possess the books of the Old and New Testaments in the Romance language, and if anyone possesses them he must turn them over to the local bishop within eight days after promulgation of this decree, so that they may be burned..." Proclamations at the Ecumenical Council of Constance in 1415 C.E.: Oxford professor, and theologian John Wycliffe, was the first (1380 C.E.) to translate the New Testament into English to "...helpeth Christian men to study the Gospel in that tongue in which they know best Christ's sentence." For this "heresy" Wycliffe was posthumously condemned by Arundel, the archbishop of Canterbury. By the Council's decree "Wycliffe's bones were exhumed and publicly burned and the ashes were thrown into the Swift River." Fate of William Tyndale in They don't teach the teachings of Jesus Christ. That's why I don't agree with their interpretation. Jesus Christ taught to keep The Seventh-Day Sabbath which is on Saturday. But the Catholic Church teaches we have to go to church on Sunday. Jesus Christ taught us to keep the Passover which is once a year. The Catholic Church celebrates Easter and Christmas something that it's not in the Bible. I hope you learned something today.
I have no idea how the worship of Santa Muerte takes place in Mexico, but I developed a relationship with her that lasted a few years. At a moment of great difficulty at work, I heard of her and prayed to her. She delivered me and other colleagues from an abusive manager without harming them at all in a matter of four days. After that, I made a portrait of her and began to pray to her daily, reciting an adapted rosary, also making simple offerings of water, roses and alcohol (though I don't drink myself). My experience is that she was easily accessible, a great protector and one to offer help in many occasions. I'm still very grateful to her and can't fathom how she could be seen as something sinister.
@@AM_61102 The abusive manager was soon offered a promotion to a different department, which they accepted gladly. And I never had contact with them ever since.
I’m from Argentina and I can assure you that here in South America Santa Muerte is very important for the religious people and it’s very common you to find sanctuaries along the road
technically the official catholic saint that's a rival to Santa Muerte is the Virgin of Guadalupe i.e the Virgin Mary. She is venerated far and wide in Mexico and far beyond into latin america as well. She is praised to the point that many protestants critisize catholics as worshipping her as if she was god herself with prayers like the rosery. And she is relatable to many such as woman, mothers and sacrifice.
La Virgén de Guadalupe was responsible for converting 15 Million Aztecs from their religion of human sacrifice to the love of Christ, simply at the sight of the miraculous image, whose properties continue to confound scientists to this day.
Love to see you covering topics like this. It really helps to have your level, inclusive perspective to contrast the exoticized and sensational portrayals.
Should also mention that she has a pretty devout LGBT following. Thanks for the video, though. Would love more videos on folk saints, including controversial ones like Simon of Trent.
From Connecticut, US here. I went to a pagan/magick store in Winsor yesterday and it was selling statues of her as well as a side room that was a shrine to her, where people left offerings (mostly money in terms of small bills) I popped my head in to see what the room looked like and was a bit startled by the skeletal figure. (ended up buying a small obsidian stone and leaving it in the altar room as a way of apologizing for popping my head in and possibly disturbing Santa Muerte unintentionally.) better safe than sorry i felt.
Death is divine because death cannot be cured, because death is not a disease. It's a passage towards another life that you'll experience eternally. No one is saying death is enjoyable, especially for the family members that have experienced their loved ones go. Yet, There’s a sense of relief and curiosity of not knowing where the soul/conscious is going after it has left our bodies. So with that realization it is impossible to deny its divinity.
@@alexarviso6836 not well said at all, it seems a large paragraph of nonsensical drivel impresses people easily, what is said in paragraphs should be condensed to a sentence, then see how profound it really is.
@@ReligionForBreakfast Maximon please he's a fantastic Saint that I have paid my respects to and if you were to make a video on him that would help me with my task
You explained this very well. No bad words towards this Saint. I don't see a problem with people praying to her. I do tarot reading every now and then. I guess I am religious and also into witchcraft. I don't approve of killing animals or butting into anyone else's religion beliefs as its none of my business. Frankly, I found you're Intel very well made. Keep it up
The devotion of Saint Jude (San Judas Tadeo) here in Mexico is another very interesting cult, I think its veneration is the one that most resembles folk religion while being officially catholic and of course the Catholic Church has heavy capitalized on it while many people see this veneration as a more acceptable devotion to that of La Santa Muerte
When I feel sad and depressed I turned to her but I feel like nobody loves me I turn to when I feel alone I turned her she is one of my goddess's she is my spiritual teacher 1 problem and sheet has guided me since I first started the path of paganism and I honor her as I have honored all of the gods that I worship
3:11. Regarding Catholic saints as European people who lived long time ago, canonizations happen constantly, and as of this Wikipedia page last edition, there are over 50 Mexican saints (Blessed, Saints, Mexican born or immigrants). Let's not forget that Mexico counts with a certified Virgin Mary apparition, Guadalupe, which vident, Juan Diego (a native American) was canonized in 2002. es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatos_de_M%C3%A9xico
@@stevencooper4422 Greetings. It would be if it were worship. When it is, it would be a sin. Let me explain. Catholics don't worship saints, not the same way as God is worshipped. God is absolute. Only God is adored, not the saints, which are only venerated. They are merely intercessors, a friend you have in a privileged situation (Heaven) to whom you ask the favor of telling God in your behalf that you need some special help. The prayers to saints and all of that are a mark of humility. You pray to God saying that you need a miracle, but you are unworthy of anything, so, please God, do it for the merits of saint John Doe, who is with you in Heaven and who really deserves your attention, and please, saint John Doe, tell God that I really need a miracle here. All of which, by the way, is unnecessary. No Catholic is expected or forced to do anything with the saints besides of recognizing their existence, and better, taking them as examples of Christian life. Any Catholic can and is required to address God only as the source of all power, creation, goodness, etc. Even the Virgin Mary is included in the category of nothingness before God; but as the mother of Jesus, and being Jesus a good Son, Catholics very much respect her for the sake of politeness, so to speak. The glory of God shows in what He can do in the lives of regular people, who could arrive to the level of heroism in their spiritual and practical lives required to canonize them. Think of the martyrs, the Bible scholars, the founders of orphanages and hospitals, the mystics and the poets. The society changers. The sinners who became heros. They are the demonstration that God can and will change your life if you just let Him. That's why Catholics, and Orthodox too, celebrate what a saint is: the works of God in human life. That's not abomination. That's merely recognition of God's power.
This sort of rang some bells for me because I remember reading a story called Death's godson. Throughout the story death was referred to as she/her which I'd not seen before.
Im a non denominational believer, not Mexican but I speak some Spanish. Santa Muerte is greatly helpful to me as a person who has lots of trauma from grieving my loved ones and stages of my own life. I've been trying to learn more Spanish and about her folk practice to get close to her. Thank you for your unbiased view, very informative! 🙏🏼
I'm a Mexican american who has a very Catholic family I had no idea what la santa muerte was until I read about it in a book recently. it's all very interesting I might consider devoting to her
Santa Muerte is also very popular with the LGBT community! A good friend of mine came out when he lived in Texas and one of his friends gave him a medal of Santa Muerte to protect him. He carried it with him for years despite being raised Protestant and being disillusioned with religion at the time. He eventually gave the medal to a friend when she moved out of state so Santa Muerte would watch over her as well. I'm not Catholic, but I'm very grateful to her for watching over my friend! Things have never been easy for him, so I'm happy he had someone by his side ❤
@@Bundpataka she is quite literally not a saint, an angel or a demon cannot be a saint, by the doctrines of catholic religion her worship is objectively heresy, the inherent nature of the catholic church is that it has a structure of authority, therefore, what the church says is heresy, IS HERESY, and all "catholics" who worship her, are APOSTATES
She is similar to Dhumavati in Tantric Hinduism, the 7th wisdom goddess of the Mahvidyas. Maa Dhum is open to all people and answers all prayers to those who are truly devout.
I'm a huge supporter of Mexican culture, or really any culture. however if some elements of your culture is negative, it should be rejected. La muerte is a demonic figure. celebrate food, dance and other positive items, not demons
@@benjaminwatt2436 Bro, I'm just latin american, that doesn't mean I'm Mexican, and even if I was, it's a culture, why can't you just respect what's not yours? And you are mistaken, they don't warship the death literally, the Mexicans just have a different perspective over death and loss, Mexicans don't think death is cool, and created a figure to simplify it all...
Very cool video. I should only add that even though her devotion is permeating into many social strata, there is still a stigma associated with her among well-educated middle and upper classes. Although within this demographic it is expected to find a rejection of religions in general, which are seen as backwards and anachronistic, in the specific case of Santa Muerte, there is also the implicit discrimination against lower classes' practices and beliefs. So it is not only its association with drug cartels and other forms of crime, but also the lingering "clasismo" (discrimination based on social status) and lingering racism against indigenous populations, both inherited from our colonial past.
That, it is totally truth, dear. A good part of the rejection towards La Santa Muerte and it's veneration has its root in the classism and racism of old. They tell you it is a religion of criminals and people who usually live a "bad life", and when they talk about criminals they are not thinking in white shirt and suits criminal politicians, neither in corrupt public officers nor oligarchs. When they say "criminals" they talk about brown skin people who live in "bad neighbourhoods", the kind of people that usually in Mexico are ignored and criminalized by Mexican judicial system, oppressed by the corruption of the system, and used as electoral tools that will be forgotten as soon as elections come to an end.
Thanks for giving a real unbiased look at at all religions. I'm atheist and think there can be real good in it. I don't like it when people have a clear objective in call something evil when they don't agree with it.
How popular is Santa Muerte these days when compared to Our Lady of Guadalupe? I still see more imagery associated with the latter coming from Mexico, but maybe that's just because it's older and more established.
It's not even compared, la virgen de Guadalupe is venerated all around the world and people visit her image every year making her church the second most visited after the San peter one in the Vatican I think
@@a.s.f.g.8345 hayo, am someone interested in anthropology so I am subscribed to channels dedicated to religions, folktales, legends and so on. So I would just like to know the differences between these and what they mean to each culture
How serendipitous! I was just in my local religious items store yesterday with my wife to look for something for her birthday, it is a very small store that has been operated by a old Mexican couple for the last 35 years and they had tons of Santa Muerte idols and candles, I got super excited and was trying to explain to my wife about her but was doing a poor job at it. Now I can just show her this video lol.
Roman Catholics might recall that St Francis of Assisi called death, his "Sister", not all of catholic theology have a pejorative view of death. Also Santa Muerte is popular among LGBT Mexicans marginalized by Roman Catholic teaching on homosexuality.
She’s also getting venerated by lgbt from all around, for protection and for being nonjudgmental and open too all even outside the Latin American diaspora. I think it will continue to grow. Which I personally think is kinda awesome. The only folk saint we have in Minnesota is Saint Urho
My family is from Guanajuato. My family from there is deeply catholic, but one aunt has blown her life savings giving money to a witch doctor in hope of finding the person who killed my uncle in a hit and run. Her oldest son, also deeply catholic, has also plunged into debt giving money to a witch doctor to help heal or extend the life of his wife. Its pretty bad out there.
Used to be a Sta. Muerte shrine on the highway outside my hometown. It ended up bulldozed (guessing the army), and got replaced soon after with other folksy shrines.
demons have more to gain by being temporarily beneficent, that's not a misunderstanding, try actually understanding what demons are instead of learning from horror movies.
I mean, as a mexican from guadalajra, while the knowledge of her worship is well-known she is seen as closely related to the very active pratices of witchcraft within my country and she is generally condemned by those who do not worship them.
@@ghostshrimp5006 She's the feminine aspect of Mictlantecuhtli. They are the lords of Mictlan (basically purgatory), with Mictecacihuatl watching over the bones of the dead. Bones in Nahua religious philosophy are like seeds - cold and dry, but they give new life. This way Mictecacihuatl is also the Lady of New Life and could be considered an aspect of Coatlicue too. Keep in mind that some teaching may vary between communities, their interpretations etc; but this is the most basic info.
Super fascinating video. I can see the appeal of female-led religion centred around a morally neutral figure that helps people regardless of their situation or background.
Once I met a construction worker who was also a shaman for the Holly Death. He told me he believed there were 4 gods: Jesus, God the Father, Mary and the Holly Death He also told me about a bunch of magic rituals he performed and he offered to perform some for me (for a cost of course because it’s a job) but I declined
That's the issue with the cult to la Santa muerte, it's a weird mix of Catholicism, prehuspanic rituals, santería, witchcraft, etc. So it's easy to see what kind of people attracts, people who believe in the occult, people who want a more cynic and pragmatic view in religion and people in constant relation or in risk of death
Yeah, that’s literally just breaking the first commandment. I’ve heard scary stories though of people who’ve tried leaving the Santa muerte cult and they’ll have these paranormal things happen to them. I wouldn’t mess with that stuff if you ever come across it again.
It is interesting to know that death is called Muerte in Mexican language. In Samskritam(sanskrit) it is called Mrityu. Sounds similar. And Mrityu is embodied as a woman, deaf and dumb, so that she is impervious to the sufferings and pain of beings, in some Hindu Puranas while the God of Death is Yama or Dharma Raj.
The philosopher Philipp Mainlander also venerated Death in a very romantic light and viewed it as a good and desirable thing, ending all suffering, hardship, and struggle; he took this view so seriously he committed suicide. I wonder if his books are associated with her; I know his books are in Spanish.
This is a really fascinating video. I've often wondered about how traditional faiths and folk traditions, with their various spiritual powers, persist and even thrive under patriarchal, monotheistic religious contexts that say those powers either don't exist, or are actually evil. That might be a neat idea to dig into in the future!
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Yikes!
i can't join but, will continue to like all the comments and replies for your algorithm : )
@Steve Gooden I hope Andrew realizes you're a spammer, and I hope everyone reports all your copy/paste abuse of their data.
Better hurry before our triskaidekaphobia gets the better of us!
Far too much repeating waffle
As a Mexican myself, I have to add from my personal experience, that the Santa Muerte in Mexico is usually considered a taboo for those that do not worship her. It is something people try to avoid talking about, and in my family for example as Catholics we were told that venerating her was against God and all our values as Christians, and that is is similar to witchcraft and black magic, in the sense that it is something that people resort to when they are asking for something which God cannot help you with...most frequently bad things like harming others. It is usually associated with people living in very marginalized environments, in dangerous neighborhoods or slums surrounded by crime, violence, poverty and really tough conditions for living. Outside those places, there are few people who worship her, and almost all of them do it in secret, and it can be a scandal when there are rumors of someone from a "Good family" praying to Santa Muerte. We really almost never talk about her, and we tend to pretend it doesn´t exist, and live our lives without thinking much about it, and for that reason, it usually gets us by surprise when someone talks about her or we see an image of her... Must people will interpret this as a sign that they are dealing with a dangerous place or a dangerous person. If for example you are in a taxi and the driver has an image of her, you may feel uncomfortable, or if you get lost and end up finding a street chapel of the Santa Muerte, you may want to get out of there immediately. I personally don´t see any problem with people who pray to her, but it is what it is.
It's always important to remember that cultures are not monolithic and that there are class structures in place for very many of them.
And people are right to be prejudiced. Gringos don't understand how bad these things are
@@Duiker36 As in : criminal class
stop letting the catholic church brainwash you. I'm Mexican and follow Santa muerte and I would never wish harm on anybody else.
@@j.2512 the real criminals are the churches who take money from communities
As a priest living in Mexico, this is excellent and well done. I love your series!
What kind of priest? Why would a RC priest approve this?
@@modestoca25 He liked the video discussing it, doesnt mean he has approve of the practice itself.
@@modestoca25 he's an Episcopal "priest"
@@modestoca25 he's talking about liking the video, dumb dumb.
I bet he's a cho-mo
I've known many folks from Southern Mexico and Guatemala and those people are serious about their folk religion. They are real devotees. These local, folk "saints" have been part of indigenous religion for many centuries in one form or another.
Yes, it appears that the old gods have taken on a new form
paganism
@@BeatrizMartinez-dy3oy the white people indoctrinated our people and forced their saints on us in the past so it looked as if our ancestors prayed to saints but we still had our deity’s that we venerated through them like el Santo niño or the baby saint El Niño de Ochoa is elegua or legba the deity hes the guardian of the crossroads and he loves child things candy and toys and sweets he’s an older man who’s very loving …. nothing in our tradition is pagan or Wiccan were Santeros… Paganism is Scottish/Irish folklore forest plant glitter deity stuff with no fundamental base a rip off of other belief systems They have to make a offering to call spirits that’s more a Caucasian thing… in this you have to be blood to be here they have to choose you it’s more bloodline passed down and it’s not lazy an alter is serious stuff you don’t just go to church, it consists of praying and speaking to spirit feeding and venerating ancestors at least an hour or 2 a day you gotta live like a good person and operate well for your soul to be able to be free in death like the ones before you and you too will be honored in death bc we’re all gods…. But you have to live right You can’t just go to church and pray and still be a bad person. Here, you’re held very accountable.
@R 🤷🏽♀️ don’t care
@Rauthentic real in religion of voodou feel the same been that way for centuries thats why it is closed religion bc we don’t want it to be colonized 💯
Your emphasis on Santa Muerte being a folk saint worshipped by all strata of society reminded me a lot of similar Chinese folk heroes venerated in traditional folk religion. Unlike Daoism and Buddhism, which are more systemized religions, and Confucianism, a philosophy, folk religions in China are similar to the decentralized beliefs you describe in this video. In particular, one figure named Guan Yu, is worshipped by all kinds of groups in society, most notably by gangs and triads as well as the police force. You can see statues of him everywhere in cities with a lot of criminal activity such as Hong Kong or Chongqing, but also in business offices, street vendor stalls, and family shrines. A video covering the different aspects of Chinese folk religion would be fascinating.
Chinese people are like amerindians after all.
My favourite Chinese restaurant in my town has a really cool statue of Guan Yu on display behind the counter. It's a detailed wood carving. I see statues of him in businesses in Montreal's Chinatown too. Once you know how he's traditionally portrayed, with the polearm and long beard, he's easy to recognize.
Guan Yu was the general dude with that emerald dragon spear, right?
There are indeed some similarities between Chinese and Mexican cultures, although they are very far apart from each other. Qingming is also somewhat similar to the Mexican Day of the Dead. Although Chinese don't like mentioning death and celebrate it in such an extravagant way
Labeling so many folk saints as cartel saints is like labeling jesus as the italian mob god because most of them believe in him
This is an important comparison!
Criminals aren't some separate society, they grew up in the same world as everyone else.
That's kinda how christianity was back then in ancient Rome. Christians were labelled atheists necromancers that sacrificed children and ate human flesh on sinister rituals they did on the catacombs
Wrong. That’s just a horrible comparison to make. You don’t go praying to Jesus asking for bad things in life since he was never associated with doing anything wrong. You go to folk saints to do that. Sure italian mobs ain’t living sinless lives like Jesus but they know better than to pray to God for money, fame or outright wanting someone killed. Lol outrageous
If that’s what your interpretation of this was then your clearly some woke idiot
Most Early Christians and Jesus’s followers were persecuted poor people Ancient Roman society in poverty, slavery, and criminals. The fact that Santa Muerte is popular amongst people in poverty that are desperate is very similar and analogous to Jesus Christ being the preferred savior god for Roman Catholics that were attacked by Roman Italians that hated christ
Please do a vide about Afro-Brazilian religions (candomblé and umbanda), they have much in common with Santa Muerte veneration
Funny that you mentioned those, exactly my thoughts while watching this video. He just recently made a video on the afro-American religions such as 'voodoo' which share lots similarities with candomblé and umbanda. You definitely should check it out
I second this plead!
Umbanda has a figure called Rosa Caveira (Rose Skull] that shares some similarities with Santa Muerte.
I was thinking the same.
This familiarity that people use to refer to Santa Muerte, with nicknames and etc, and the offerings of tobacco and alcohol, etc are so similar to the relationship between people in Brazil and the Exus, Pomba Giras and Caboclos.
Santa Muerte resembles Exu Caveira in Umbanda and other entities in the religion.
I’ve been to her main shrine in Mexico City a couple times. It is in a spooky part of town. Birds inside chirp and make noise. Devotees bow down at an altar and pray, lighting cigarettes and bringing her soda pop as offerings. They ring a bell when they are done. A lady will prepare you an figurine with birdseed, soda, perfume and cover it with cigar smoke for a small fee.
sounds like a great place for a cookout
La Santa Muerte has a HUGE following here in Chicago. She is everywhere. I also spent time in Argentina and their folk saints are fascinating as well--For example, they have San La Muerte (a male deity that's different from the female Mexican Santa Muerte) and Gauchito Gil (who was a devotee of San La Muerte). They're both extremely popular, particularly in the interior of the country where a higher percentage of the population has indigenous roots.
Isn't there one in Bolivia as well?
@@Bicicletasaladas nearly every culture has some type of supernatural death being. The version talked about is native to Mexico. Chicago has a huge mexican community which is why it's so popular here.
In Argentina we also have the very important Difunta Correa (you may have seen piles of water bottles on the road). We use to call them "popular saints" intead of "folk". The santification process is seen partly in more contemporary examples like Eva Peron, Gilda, Rodrigo Buenos or Diego Maradona.
Also if you know of any temples for la santa muerte in chicago let me know
@@Bicicletasaladas santa muerte still mexican tho the other ones are different
Great video ! In Argentina we have our own version known as San La Muerte and it too has bad press and a simplified bad image (something shared with African inspired religions like Umbanda and Santeria), usually associated with marginalized lifestyles, criminality and prison.
For anyone interested, all Latinoamerica is really rich in religious syncretism and folk religiosity. From Venezuela's Cortes (pantheons of historical and mythical figures, each one with its own dominion) to Argentina's Gauchito Gil (a Robin Hood-like figure who after been caught and executed became one of the most well-known and venerated popular saints)
Thank you for sharing this cultural knowledge, sometimes people want to learn more but don't want to get lost or overwhelmed
As a Mexican-American, I grew up seeing images of Santa Muerte in devotional candles and statues for sale at local Mexican markets in Wisconsin of all places! My mother warned me against her saying that "while she'll grant you anything, it will always come with a price" and that she's a "jealous saint" who punishes those who worship others before her.
I see her very much as described here: an amoral entity that reflects the worshippers themselves. She's quite popular among many in the LGBT community in Mexico and in Mexican-American circles since Catholic institutions often turn us away. As more and more people see their situations as desperate and turn to anything for survival, veneration of la santísima muerte will only continue to grow
Thank you for this. It is a lot of personal context.
@@Alex-ft1hi Que?
@@Alex-ft1hi what's disgusting?
@@Bicicletasaladas there's definitely an element to that. However, it's important to remember that the Catholic church in Mexico uses the same tactics. We just turn a blind eye as they're more established.
@Skydaddy Myth-Busters this channel is called "religion for breakfast." Are you lost?
As a Catholic-raised Mexican I was usually taught to believe Santa Muerte was only adored by criminals or bad lower class people (extreme prejudices) or had an inherent evil that didn’t really deserve mainstream attention, but I once discovered a modest altar to Santa Muerte in a sweetheart’s home, and couldn’t believe this “normal” family adored Santa Muerte 😬 I’ll never forget that, really opened my mind to the underground belief diversity in Mexico City
She is not of the divine light. Just because people don't look low class while following her doesn't mean she isn't bad she literally steals your soul and you can't go back from worshiping her
She is literally worshiped by drug cartels
@@Meetmeintheastralplanes thats what my parents told me she can give and take away.... kinda creepy
@@the_flyingdino3445 My mom knew a person who’s mother worshiped Santa muerte and the daughter said the family was seeing a dark cloud that hovered the moms home that only they could see, I don’t trust worshiping a dark entity.
@@Meetmeintheastralplanes true.. me neither
There is a Santa Muerte that is enshrined in a legitimate Catholic Church in the Philippines. It is made out of ivory and is brought to the Philippines about 150 years ago. It was probably based on Mexican Santa Muerte. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, however, deny that the two are related ang reasoned out in a televised interview that the interpretation of the two saints and the religious representations are different.
Most interesting , thanks ! 💜
the stewards of La Santa Muerte in the philippines say that it's more of a memento mori than a cultic practice
Saan yan?
Wow, thank you for sharing
Ok saan yan nakalagay OP?
Your videos are always done with only highest respect for your subject. It's quite admirable, I think it deserves mention.
I agree
Santa Muerte is super interesting. I didn't know that the public veneration of her was such a recent phenomenon. Obviously there was a spiritual need among the population for a character like her, since the movement grew so quickly.
yeah, grows alongside crime because of criminals
@@j.2512 Not every person outside your little in-group is a criminal. Criminals are people who commit crimes. Crimes are "breaking laws". It is not a crime to believe differently from you.
Can I just say, the way you opened the video was perfect. No plugs, no unnecessary into, or any formalities. You really drew me in by mentioning Breaking Bad and Ghost Recon. Bravo.
and people pretend market studies don't work 🤣
Wait, there's one prominent Santa Muerte scholar called Chestnut, and another one called Castañeda, also meaning chestnut? Whoever is running the simulation is getting laaaaaaaazy.
@@pjtheninja357 dafuq?
@@danielgadomski5129 stop asking questions and pay your rent
@@pjtheninja357 are you having a stroke?
@@danielgadomski5129 not right now but i think they feel good and have nearly 0% chance of sustaining nerve damage. 🎶stroke-proof & heart-attack proof, but i still cain't put my head through-the-roof💨👺
Castañeda means chestnut forest.
I’m from a town in the Midwest w/ a huge Mexican immigrant population and tho I don’t live near where a majority of that population lives, I’ve seen a lot of iconography of Santa Muerte. She was my first exposure to saints in general since I didn’t grow up Catholic and I always liked her, even when I didn’t really understand her or what she stood for past her association with death.
Please don’t associate her with Catholicism.
@@buckarooben7635she’s a part of Catholicism whether you like it or not
@@Bundpataka The Church declared Santa Muerte heretical, so therefore she's not part of Catholicism.
@@Bundpataka "whether you like it or not" HA i like how you said it with authority, as if it's true🤣
@@Bundpatakashe’s a demon
Being from northern Mexico I just want to lay out that you dont really see nor hear much about the cult of La Santa Muerte around here, it is mostly a centern/southern development and as far as the circles and places I frequent, I have yet to meet or see any believer or shrine. Iconography is found but, in my city it is mostly understood just as a fun representation of Death that feels very mexican and authentic, specially in relation to the Dia de los Muertos celebration, not much else.
yeah is mostly a chilango thing
That what I first thought when I first saw Santa Muerte, how Mexican saw the grim reaper
Not 100% true. In Sinaloa I drove along a road that had around 5/6 Santa muerte shrines spaced out from one another. It’s definitely not the strongest saint in the north but there will always be followers to venerate; even in small numbers. I would personally vote against it. Especially in a state like Sinaloa where people often just need any excuse to pull the trigger.
Preferably, Jesus would do a lot more good.✌🏼
Saint Sarah would be interesting. She’s the folk saint of the French Romani.
Saint Sarah of France as in the Folk Saint of the Romani Christians?
Wow ! I didn't know this ! Thank you for sharing this with us. I'm very interested in the culture and traditions of Romani peoples 💜
Yes they have a big festival in southern France every year I believe.
Yes
She's also the Hindu goddess Kali
In Houston, TX you will see many cars with bumper stickers or signs of Santa Muerte on the cars. You can also find candles to her in Mexican supermarkets. It’s really wide spread
I had always assumed it was a recent offshoot of catholicism, but seeing it as a holdout of pre Columbian religion is really interesting. It's a good example of the resilience of a culture.
As a Buddhist, I find this phenomeon very intriguing. On the one hand, the personification of death, or "Māras" as we call them, tend to be evil. The one who was adversary to the Buddha was also known as "Pāpīyan" or "the sinful one." On the other hand, there is a story that an Indian monk managed to convert the Buddha's Māra to Buddhism, which suggests his role as a potential guardian to the faith. It would seem that the "morality" of death is largely dependent on circumstance.
You make no sense in all this discussion!
This is the take on Buddhist theology that you get from skimming a Wikipedia entry and calling it good.
"Māras" is not the personification of death. Mṛtyu-māra is Māra _as_ death but that's not the same thing as being just some religious placeholder for death - there is more to it than that.
Death is neutral in Buddhism.
@@miken5261 thinking isn’t your strong suit isn’t it ?
To anyone not familiar with different forms and practices within buddhism, (ahem^^ you guys) this may seem off base, but you just don't have the knowledge to understand it.
@@jessl1934 "This is the take on Buddhist theology that you get from skimming a Wikipedia entry and calling it good."
...you said, to a Buddhist.
It wasn't mentioned in the video, probably because the subgroup is quantitatively insignificant, but there is a (arguably, growing) school within Santa Muerte devotion that has fully divorced her from Catholicism and views her as a true amoral deity or as a reincarnation of the old mesoamerican death gods. This sect has already established temples or shrines in parts of the United States and is developing a structure.
oh I need to learn more about that, where can I look?
@@TrafficPartyHatTest
La Santa Muerte: Unearthing the Magic & Mysticism of Death by Tomas Prower touches (like lays a fingertip) on it. You'll mostly hear about deistic devotees by word of mouth, and they'll most likely be millennials or Gen-Z devotee-practitioners. I only know one other person, but that person knows a few other people, who also know a few other people all spread out, not in each other's local vicinity. Until a larger following develops, it will be a fringe movement.
I wish people would recognize Santa Muerte devotion as a modern manifestation of indigenous Mexican religion, and not something associated with violence
It goes back to the Aztecs and probably much farther.
Even though it's both?
@@JimmyNails27 why is it people always want to associate religions from latin america with violence. santeria, vodou, santa muerte, etc. it's just a tired racist trope. the existence of christian and muslim extr*mists doesn't mean those religions are violent, likewise with Santa Muerte devotion.
@@11mazatl Its not really in the broad sense, that being, Aztecs captured people typically in battle or the sacking of cites, and mass scarified them. IN modern views this is considered bad.
Santeria has blood sacrifice, Vodou and its practices of using it to cause harm. santa muerte exists as it does due to the rather poor and violent state of Mexico.
@@11mazatl I guess the issue is not the Religion on itself but who it appeals to, it's kind of natural that people who are constantly facing death and risking their life would feel a stronger connection with the personification of death, it's a more cynic view on Catholicism
I would love to see Our Lady of Guadalupe be covered.
@Malcolm X
Respete la madre del Dios único y todopoderoso
@Malcolm X
Los judíos niegan a Jesús. Ellos tienen su propia religión. Pero el cristianismo es para todo el mundo.
@Malcolm X
Cual genocidio? Fueron los gobiernos que hicieron todo eso no la iglesia. Si la misma iglesia ha peleado por los derechos de los más vulnerables.
@Malcolm X con todas las religiones querrás decir?
“Death doesn't discriminate
Between the sinners
And the saints
It takes and it takes and it takes…”-Aaron Burr from the song "Wait for It" in the musical Hamilton by Lin Manuel Miranda
yes well death only sends you to your permanant home.
Santa Muerte also plays a prominent role in 'Penny Dreadful: City of Angels'! In the show, she functions not only as a venerated deity, but also a character with stakes in the overarching story. Highly recommended! I've been wanting to learn more about her since I saw the show so, to both you and Dr. Kingsbury, thank you for this explainer!
The practice reminds me of Jewish golem folklore, largely unorthodox but stories spring up amongst communities in times of injustice.
Even golem and the Kabbalah mysticism powering it has no resemblance to the deep spiritual rot symbolized by the worship of this demon. Golem of legend was a machine powered by energies derived from God to protect the Jewish community when called upon to do so. No Jew ever even venerated a golem.
@@claesvanoldenphatt9972there are no such things as demons, this is simply a placebo like Yahweh or any other imaginary being
Not quite. Unlike other types of gods or beings worshipped, Santa muerte is your death and your fate, and as such, yours to bargain with. You may worship her but in the end it's all about you. It is very spiritual but also very non secular. A golem is an idol, most gods are an experience, but muerte is a reality
@@benrichards8987 as I said, now Jew would ever worship a golem. Anyone who calls himself Christian and has recourse to demon-worship is lying to himself.
@oaktree_ death is evil, demonic. No one gets to bargain with death but in fairy tales. Christ has already narrowed hades and deprived death of power though. Pagans still live under its thrall. Too bad for them.
My mother in law was (I mean she is still alive but my husbando is death so...) a Santa Muerte devotee and she was told that you can practice devotion to Santa Muerte from every religious ritual you would like because "la huesuda" doesn't discriminate. The idea of non-discrimination is very interesting because Mexico is a very racist country, the type of life you would get depends a lot on the color of your skin and other social determinants; also it's very common for undocumented migrants because they know the will be discriminated in USA so they need someone who wouldn't discriminate by their side. In a country with a lot of machismo it's very understandable that they look for a non discriminative group.
Awesome video. I'm an Australian Firefighter and I've been on the path of The Most Holy Death for six years now.
Hopefully she keeps you safe.
How did you discover/get into it?
@@nachtegaelw5389 I think the first time I became aware of Santa Muerte was about seven years ago through a documentary about religion.
@@creepygallery3303 cool!
Dose this work as I'm interested but I'm from Scotland
I love not being afraid of the unknown. Don’t know how people could just immediately turn a blind eye at this stuff, it’s culture and it’s beautiful no matter your background. Very mind opening as well
Life is a million times stranger than any possible fiction.
growing up in méxico i can attest to a vague feeling of surrealism there
There is nothing unusual about people worshiping wealth, which is what people who worship la santa muerte for.
@@benjaminwatt2436 That seems pretty reductive. Did you watch the video?
@@Bicicletasaladas Interesting points. I've found religion to only been real when connected to the real God.
@@11kravitzn La Muerte cult is huge where i live. i have talked to dozens of followers and they confirm, she's a favors god. also that's what was said in the video. over and over he mentioned how unrestrictive the god is and people ask her for anything. i was speaking from experience.
It is quite interesting to me that the brief description of the veneration of Santa Muerte lines up almost word for word with how Shiva is venerated in Hinduism. Obviously, this is a gross simplification on my part, and the two cultures are a world apart (both literally and metaphorically), so it is exceedingly unlikely that either influenced the other in any significant way. I think this is a great example of "convergent evolution" within human social structures (as opposed to convergent evolution seen in biological contexts).
Also Santa Muerte translated to Sanskrit would be Santa Mṛtyu. They sound so similar.
Interestingly enough, Shiva is among with Ganesh perhaps the most popular deity of Hinduism in Mexico. Even though there are very few people who actually practice Hinduism in Mexico, Shiva is extremely common to find in the esoteric world and in Mexican magic. His image is constantly worship and used by many who claim to practice different forms of sorcery and witchcraft through a sincretism of different deities of the world. I have found a lot of candles, cards, images and small statues of Shiva in different esoteric bookstores and markets. I have no idea why this is the case though.
Jai Bhairavi Devi 🙏💗🌈
@@eduardof7322 Because Shiva is also associated with just about anyone like Santa Muerte.
@@caraxes_noodleboi this is because of Spanish and Sanskrit's shared lineage from Proto-Indo-European. ETA: "From Proto-Indo-Iranian *mr̥tyúš (“death”), from Proto-Indo-European *mer- (“to die”). Cognate with Avestan 𐬨𐬆𐬭𐬆𐬚𐬌𐬌𐬎 (mərəθiiu), Old Persian 𐎶𐎼𐏁𐎡𐎹 (m-r-š-i-y /məršiyu/), Lithuanian mirtis, Latin mors." -Wiktionary.
From "mors (singular accusative form "mortem") derives Spanish/Castilian "muerte".
I like this popular veneration of an 'unofficial' saint, especially as she is popular amongst the poor and marginalised in society. It's religion at its best imo.
@@KarmaKraftttt no she isn't.
@@KarmaKraftttt before she was santa muerte, she was Mictecacíhuatl AKA "goddess of death" sounds similar but the name itself is still the same she represents "death" stop hating, you catholic and the church has pagan roots "before our ancestors" pray to "God"
Demon worship
How is it religion at its best? It's just desperate and outcasted people demanding things.
@@MrRezitinas “Demon”… Nah, more like an Angel of Death
Source: Trust me, bro
Fascinating ! Thanks to Dr Kate Kingsbury and you for this video.
Love videos of this part of the world. I’ve been doing a deep dive of the people I’d call my ancestors; this channel has been a big part of this rabbit hole haha
This is similar to Saint Bridget, an Irish Saint which is actually a reimagining of the Celtic goddess of the same name, associated with motherhood and women
Thank you for the video! I went from Catholic to atheist to devotee of santa muerte over my life and she has been a benevolent force in my life who sees me through rough times and grants me opportunities. I still buy a new statue every time I go from unemployed to employed as a thank you to her. When something good happens to me, I thank her. When something bad happens to me, I thank her for sparing me from an even worse fate. ♥ :)
I don't think she really exist
@@wanh5335 and you had to mention that because ??
Beautiful devotion to Her you have ❤💀
Good for u. I respect your belief
Can I ask how u went from being a nonbeliever to a believer again? Especially to a figure like death?
This is my new favourite channel.
I find the devotion to Santa Muerte to be endlessly fascinating. An face of religion different from how we normally think of it. Thanks for covering this topic.
This is insanity on top of idolatry. It's desperate people clinging to a foot of the devil while being boiled in its pot.
@@bluellamaslearnbeyondthele2456 Pretty much, I believe that it has risen with the weakness present in the current Catholic Church to enforce proper teaching as well as the societal clusterfuck lingering over Latin America, it sadly shows the ignorance to Christianity held by much of the population who are easily attracted to these “alternatives” for selfish and desperate measures.
@@bluellamaslearnbeyondthele2456 no
@@convelwolf9544 how am I wrong?
@@bluellamaslearnbeyondthele2456 Santa muerte is a completely different entity/energy, plus the devil is part of the colonizers religion
I still remember the first time I saw the big statue thing in Ecatepec, I thought it was a haunted house! It's somewhat difficult to approach anyone who is devoted to La Santa Muerte because in my experience, they are very fanatic or, usually into very bad stuff. I was surprised to learn more from this channel than from folks back home!
Something usually missing from the scholar explanation of Santa Muerte is the mention of esoteric practices beyond the external devotion. Many devotees practice some kind of magical system, often based on hermetic philosophies. When you said (I'm paraphrasing) that many devotees see Santa Muerte as a supernatural version of themselves, this is in line with the hermetic principles. Magic practices around Santa Muerte come from different sources such as shamanism, curanderismo, spiritism, paganism, folk Catholicism, Mexican brujeria, African religions, European esoterism. Through magical practices, practitioners attempt to access the divinities directly rather than through an intermediary such as a priest or pastor. Practitioners not only try to obtain favors or miracles, but also balance in their lives, understanding of their role in the world and a better relationship with life and death.
Super interesting video! It never ceases to amaze me how local tradition manages to meld with christianity, creating either a synergic faith or creates a whole new belief system.
Catholic Church is the one that malds with local traditions. This has nothing to do with Christianity.
@@carloswater7 huh? Catholicism is a form of Christian faith. All religions that follow Jesus fall under the category of christian
@@LenaFerrari the teachings of Jesus Christ traced back to the first century AD. The Catholic church was established in the fourth Century AD. And the teachings of the Catholic Church are completely different than that of Jesus Christ. In fact in the year 1229 the Catholic Church banned the Bible. They follow something that Jesus Christ didn't thought. Therefore, the Catholic church is not a form of Christianity.
@@carloswater7 it's officially considered a form of Christianity. And they follow their interpretation of Jesus teachings. No, they did not ban the Bible lol, where did you get that idea from? They still use the Bible. Just because you disagree with their interpretation of Jesus' thoughts doesn't mean they aren't Christians. And, unless you are orthodox catholic, your Christian religion is probably a derivative of the catholic church anyways
@@LenaFerrari that's just your opinion. It's not a form of Christianity. Yes the Catholic Church did ban the Bible.
Here's the proof
Decree of the Council of Toulouse (1229 C.E.): "We prohibit also that the laity should be permitted to have the books of the Old or New Testament; but we most strictly forbid their having any translation of these books."
Ruling of the Council of Tarragona of 1234 C.E.: "No one may possess the books of the Old and New Testaments in the Romance language, and if anyone possesses them he must turn them over to the local bishop within eight days after promulgation of this decree, so that they may be burned..."
Proclamations at the Ecumenical Council of Constance in 1415 C.E.: Oxford professor, and theologian John Wycliffe, was the first (1380 C.E.) to translate the New Testament into English to "...helpeth Christian men to study the Gospel in that tongue in which they know best Christ's sentence." For this "heresy" Wycliffe was posthumously condemned by Arundel, the archbishop of Canterbury. By the Council's decree "Wycliffe's bones were exhumed and publicly burned and the ashes were thrown into the Swift River."
Fate of William Tyndale in
They don't teach the teachings of Jesus Christ. That's why I don't agree with their interpretation.
Jesus Christ taught to keep The Seventh-Day Sabbath which is on Saturday. But the Catholic Church teaches we have to go to church on Sunday. Jesus Christ taught us to keep the Passover which is once a year. The Catholic Church celebrates Easter and Christmas something that it's not in the Bible.
I hope you learned something today.
I have no idea how the worship of Santa Muerte takes place in Mexico, but I developed a relationship with her that lasted a few years. At a moment of great difficulty at work, I heard of her and prayed to her. She delivered me and other colleagues from an abusive manager without harming them at all in a matter of four days. After that, I made a portrait of her and began to pray to her daily, reciting an adapted rosary, also making simple offerings of water, roses and alcohol (though I don't drink myself). My experience is that she was easily accessible, a great protector and one to offer help in many occasions. I'm still very grateful to her and can't fathom how she could be seen as something sinister.
You’re praying to Satan
How much does she drink usually?
What do you mean she helped you and your colleagues with an abusive manager? What happened exactly?
@@AM_61102 The abusive manager was soon offered a promotion to a different department, which they accepted gladly. And I never had contact with them ever since.
demonic mission accomplished. may Christ forgive you one day.
I’m from Argentina and I can assure you that here in South America Santa Muerte is very important for the religious people and it’s very common you to find sanctuaries along the road
Viva San La Muerte!
San la muerte is different
For those of us who know, she is of Aztec descent, a Princess but then again those are OUR teachings. Bless those on their journey
technically the official catholic saint that's a rival to Santa Muerte is the Virgin of Guadalupe i.e the Virgin Mary. She is venerated far and wide in Mexico and far beyond into latin america as well. She is praised to the point that many protestants critisize catholics as worshipping her as if she was god herself with prayers like the rosery. And she is relatable to many such as woman, mothers and sacrifice.
both are heresies.
La Virgén de Guadalupe was responsible for converting 15 Million Aztecs from their religion of human sacrifice to the love of Christ, simply at the sight of the miraculous image, whose properties continue to confound scientists to this day.
Love to see you covering topics like this. It really helps to have your level, inclusive perspective to contrast the exoticized and sensational portrayals.
Should also mention that she has a pretty devout LGBT following.
Thanks for the video, though. Would love more videos on folk saints, including controversial ones like Simon of Trent.
No surprise there
@@maddies_he4rt easy 'saint' - broad way
@@lexodius there name checks out
Yes popular with many people who may be on the fringe of society. Kinda like pure land Buddhism and Christianity was once.
@@ghostshrimp5006 yeah.
THANK YOU .. Shes been reaching out to me lately. i had to do my research! 🙏
From Connecticut, US here. I went to a pagan/magick store in Winsor yesterday and it was selling statues of her as well as a side room that was a shrine to her, where people left offerings (mostly money in terms of small bills) I popped my head in to see what the room looked like and was a bit startled by the skeletal figure. (ended up buying a small obsidian stone and leaving it in the altar room as a way of apologizing for popping my head in and possibly disturbing Santa Muerte unintentionally.) better safe than sorry i felt.
bitchmade
I'm from Panama. I use to pray to Santa Muerte as a child and still do today. There are many aspects to Santa Muerte. 🌹
Death is divine because death cannot be cured, because death is not a disease. It's a passage towards another life that you'll experience eternally. No one is saying death is enjoyable, especially for the family members that have experienced their loved ones go. Yet, There’s a sense of relief and curiosity of not knowing where the soul/conscious is going after it has left our bodies. So with that realization it is impossible to deny its divinity.
well said
"Death is divine because death cannot be cured, because death is not a disease" that isn't what qualifies divine. sorry nice try.
@@alexarviso6836 not well said at all, it seems a large paragraph of nonsensical drivel impresses people easily, what is said in paragraphs should be condensed to a sentence, then see how profound it really is.
@@kimlichteig60
It's a comment, not an essay.
Thank you for spreding the word. May Santa Muerte watch over you.
Yes!! This was so good! More folk saints please!
Would you rather see Jesus Malverde or Maximón? I'd be excited to make a video on either of them.
@@ReligionForBreakfast Maximón would make for an interesting vid
@@ReligionForBreakfast Maximon please he's a fantastic Saint that I have paid my respects to and if you were to make a video on him that would help me with my task
@@ReligionForBreakfast why not both?
@@juniorloaf12 yes I agree, why not both ❤️
You explained this very well. No bad words towards this Saint. I don't see a problem with people praying to her. I do tarot reading every now and then. I guess I am religious and also into witchcraft. I don't approve of killing animals or butting into anyone else's religion beliefs as its none of my business.
Frankly, I found you're Intel very well made. Keep it up
😂i love how you guys pretend a person's relgious beliefs is inconsequential to their behavior.
been waiting for this vid for ages
Excellent presentation! I’d love to see you do one on another Mexican folk saint, Niño Fidencio.
The devotion of Saint Jude (San Judas Tadeo) here in Mexico is another very interesting cult, I think its veneration is the one that most resembles folk religion while being officially catholic and of course the Catholic Church has heavy capitalized on it while many people see this veneration as a more acceptable devotion to that of La Santa Muerte
When I feel sad and depressed I turned to her but I feel like nobody loves me I turn to when I feel alone I turned her she is one of my goddess's she is my spiritual teacher 1 problem and sheet has guided me since I first started the path of paganism and I honor her as I have honored all of the gods that I worship
OUR LADY OF HOPE
The Blessed Virgin Mary
3:11. Regarding Catholic saints as European people who lived long time ago, canonizations happen constantly, and as of this Wikipedia page last edition, there are over 50 Mexican saints (Blessed, Saints, Mexican born or immigrants). Let's not forget that Mexico counts with a certified Virgin Mary apparition, Guadalupe, which vident, Juan Diego (a native American) was canonized in 2002.
es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatos_de_M%C3%A9xico
Saint worship is an abomination
@@stevencooper4422 Greetings. It would be if it were worship. When it is, it would be a sin. Let me explain. Catholics don't worship saints, not the same way as God is worshipped. God is absolute. Only God is adored, not the saints, which are only venerated. They are merely intercessors, a friend you have in a privileged situation (Heaven) to whom you ask the favor of telling God in your behalf that you need some special help. The prayers to saints and all of that are a mark of humility. You pray to God saying that you need a miracle, but you are unworthy of anything, so, please God, do it for the merits of saint John Doe, who is with you in Heaven and who really deserves your attention, and please, saint John Doe, tell God that I really need a miracle here.
All of which, by the way, is unnecessary. No Catholic is expected or forced to do anything with the saints besides of recognizing their existence, and better, taking them as examples of Christian life. Any Catholic can and is required to address God only as the source of all power, creation, goodness, etc. Even the Virgin Mary is included in the category of nothingness before God; but as the mother of Jesus, and being Jesus a good Son, Catholics very much respect her for the sake of politeness, so to speak.
The glory of God shows in what He can do in the lives of regular people, who could arrive to the level of heroism in their spiritual and practical lives required to canonize them. Think of the martyrs, the Bible scholars, the founders of orphanages and hospitals, the mystics and the poets. The society changers. The sinners who became heros. They are the demonstration that God can and will change your life if you just let Him. That's why Catholics, and Orthodox too, celebrate what a saint is: the works of God in human life.
That's not abomination. That's merely recognition of God's power.
@@MariaMartinez-researcher Your explanation is honestly amazing. Thank you for it.
Nice video . I was looking for a non biased video , much appreciated
This sort of rang some bells for me because I remember reading a story called Death's godson. Throughout the story death was referred to as she/her which I'd not seen before.
Im a non denominational believer, not Mexican but I speak some Spanish.
Santa Muerte is greatly helpful to me as a person who has lots of trauma from grieving my loved ones and stages of my own life.
I've been trying to learn more Spanish and about her folk practice to get close to her.
Thank you for your unbiased view, very informative!
🙏🏼
pagan, heretic, apostate, words to describe you. believer is not one of them.
I'm a Mexican american who has a very Catholic family I had no idea what la santa muerte was until I read about it in a book recently. it's all very interesting I might consider devoting to her
I love this Chanel so much
Santa Muerte is also very popular with the LGBT community! A good friend of mine came out when he lived in Texas and one of his friends gave him a medal of Santa Muerte to protect him. He carried it with him for years despite being raised Protestant and being disillusioned with religion at the time. He eventually gave the medal to a friend when she moved out of state so Santa Muerte would watch over her as well. I'm not Catholic, but I'm very grateful to her for watching over my friend! Things have never been easy for him, so I'm happy he had someone by his side ❤
Of course the deity of drug dealers, sicarios, and other degenerates is the diety of the lgbtq community
You worded that as if she’s part of the catholic religion. 😐
@@buckarooben7635if many Mexican Catholics venerate her, then she’s part of Mexican Catholicism
@@Bundpataka she is quite literally not a saint, an angel or a demon cannot be a saint, by the doctrines of catholic religion her worship is objectively heresy, the inherent nature of the catholic church is that it has a structure of authority, therefore, what the church says is heresy, IS HERESY, and all "catholics" who worship her, are APOSTATES
She is similar to Dhumavati in Tantric Hinduism, the 7th wisdom goddess of the Mahvidyas. Maa Dhum is open to all people and answers all prayers to those who are truly devout.
That was great. Thank you
Next one in the series on the folk saints of Argentina el Gauchito Gil and la Difunta Correa?
As a latin american, seeing other people spreading our naturally diverse culture through knowledge makes me proud of my origins.
I'm a huge supporter of Mexican culture, or really any culture. however if some elements of your culture is negative, it should be rejected. La muerte is a demonic figure. celebrate food, dance and other positive items, not demons
@@benjaminwatt2436 He said latin american, latin america is bigger than just Mexico, im argentinian and im also latin american
@@benjaminwatt2436 Bro, I'm just latin american, that doesn't mean I'm Mexican, and even if I was, it's a culture, why can't you just respect what's not yours? And you are mistaken, they don't warship the death literally, the Mexicans just have a different perspective over death and loss, Mexicans don't think death is cool, and created a figure to simplify it all...
@@Bicicletasaladas Yeah, it's only natural, they just deal with differently.
This is Mexican culture, not Latin American culture.
She’s the best thing that ever happen to me
I’ve met Entiqueta Romero a couple times when I visited her house in Tepito. Really nice lady.
Very cool video. I should only add that even though her devotion is permeating into many social strata, there is still a stigma associated with her among well-educated middle and upper classes. Although within this demographic it is expected to find a rejection of religions in general, which are seen as backwards and anachronistic, in the specific case of Santa Muerte, there is also the implicit discrimination against lower classes' practices and beliefs. So it is not only its association with drug cartels and other forms of crime, but also the lingering "clasismo" (discrimination based on social status) and lingering racism against indigenous populations, both inherited from our colonial past.
what? most rich ppl in mexico are catholic, ever heard of PAN?
That, it is totally truth, dear. A good part of the rejection towards La Santa Muerte and it's veneration has its root in the classism and racism of old. They tell you it is a religion of criminals and people who usually live a "bad life", and when they talk about criminals they are not thinking in white shirt and suits criminal politicians, neither in corrupt public officers nor oligarchs. When they say "criminals" they talk about brown skin people who live in "bad neighbourhoods", the kind of people that usually in Mexico are ignored and criminalized by Mexican judicial system, oppressed by the corruption of the system, and used as electoral tools that will be forgotten as soon as elections come to an end.
Thanks for giving a real unbiased look at at all religions. I'm atheist and think there can be real good in it. I don't like it when people have a clear objective in call something evil when they don't agree with it.
How popular is Santa Muerte these days when compared to Our Lady of Guadalupe? I still see more imagery associated with the latter coming from Mexico, but maybe that's just because it's older and more established.
It's not even compared, la virgen de Guadalupe is venerated all around the world and people visit her image every year making her church the second most visited after the San peter one in the Vatican I think
Hail to Black Lady our queen and mother.
@Steve Gooden do you already posted it. Do it once and leave it be and someone will see it eventually
@@a.s.f.g.8345 hayo, am someone interested in anthropology so I am subscribed to channels dedicated to religions, folktales, legends and so on. So I would just like to know the differences between these and what they mean to each culture
santa muerte is only for criminals and their families
How serendipitous! I was just in my local religious items store yesterday with my wife to look for something for her birthday, it is a very small store that has been operated by a old Mexican couple for the last 35 years and they had tons of Santa Muerte idols and candles, I got super excited and was trying to explain to my wife about her but was doing a poor job at it. Now I can just show her this video lol.
Good for you my man, I’m sure she’ll find it interesting
@2:20 -- Dude! I used to have that Grim Reaper poster on my wall in the early '90s during my edgy teen-goth years. B)
I wish you would've included the fact that she has a pretty big following of LGBTQIA people, being a saint of those on the outside of society
What an absoluetly fascinating video. I loved it! Great Job!!!!
I wouldve never expected this video from anybody. Props!
Roman Catholics might recall that St Francis of Assisi called death, his "Sister", not all of catholic theology have a pejorative view of death. Also Santa Muerte is popular among LGBT Mexicans marginalized by Roman Catholic teaching on homosexuality.
surprise surprise, the wicked flock together in their rebellion against the Living God.
She’s also getting venerated by lgbt from all around, for protection and for being nonjudgmental and open too all even outside the Latin American diaspora. I think it will continue to grow. Which I personally think is kinda awesome. The only folk saint we have in Minnesota is Saint Urho
Loving watching this on Dia Delos Muertos so thank you
they are 2 completely different things tho
My family is from Guanajuato. My family from there is deeply catholic, but one aunt has blown her life savings giving money to a witch doctor in hope of finding the person who killed my uncle in a hit and run. Her oldest son, also deeply catholic, has also plunged into debt giving money to a witch doctor to help heal or extend the life of his wife. Its pretty bad out there.
Used to be a Sta. Muerte shrine on the highway outside my hometown. It ended up bulldozed (guessing the army), and got replaced soon after with other folksy shrines.
I like how the Mexican Grim Reaper is a benevolent not evil deity, she is misunderstood
demons have more to gain by being temporarily beneficent, that's not a misunderstanding, try actually understanding what demons are instead of learning from horror movies.
I mean, as a mexican from guadalajra, while the knowledge of her worship is well-known she is seen as closely related to the very active pratices of witchcraft within my country and she is generally condemned by those who do not worship them.
Yaay, another Mesoamerican folk religion video! Hail Mictecacihuatl!
Hi, as a fan of culture i’m interested to learn about mictecacihuatl and its impact on people. If that’s all right with you
@@ghostshrimp5006 Most people are very welcoming. I got accepted and integrated, sharing knowledge is what we do. Ask whatever you wish
@@ahmicqui9396 much appreciated, so to start off, who is Mictecacihuatl?
@@ghostshrimp5006
She's the feminine aspect of Mictlantecuhtli. They are the lords of Mictlan (basically purgatory), with Mictecacihuatl watching over the bones of the dead. Bones in Nahua religious philosophy are like seeds - cold and dry, but they give new life. This way Mictecacihuatl is also the Lady of New Life and could be considered an aspect of Coatlicue too.
Keep in mind that some teaching may vary between communities, their interpretations etc; but this is the most basic info.
@@ahmicqui9396 what about the other two? What are there roles?
You could do more videos on latin american folk saints like "Gauchito Gil" from Argentina or "Negrinho do Pastoreio" from Brazil.
Well im mexican and i find this bizarre... so i gues the saying in my contry is true: "Theres no just one México but many Mexicos"
Every single tienda mexicana I have been to here in NC sells Santísima Muerte devotional candles, many sell figurines and pictures as well.
Super fascinating video. I can see the appeal of female-led religion centred around a morally neutral figure that helps people regardless of their situation or background.
so you can see the appeal of demon worship. as if it were only fire and blood, no one would do it. this is the MO of all demons.
An affront to the theotokos.
Hail Mary
she sounds like a skinny legend. icon.
She is Santa Muerte is amazing 😌
Once I met a construction worker who was also a shaman for the Holly Death. He told me he believed there were 4 gods: Jesus, God the Father, Mary and the Holly Death
He also told me about a bunch of magic rituals he performed and he offered to perform some for me (for a cost of course because it’s a job) but I declined
That's the issue with the cult to la Santa muerte, it's a weird mix of Catholicism, prehuspanic rituals, santería, witchcraft, etc. So it's easy to see what kind of people attracts, people who believe in the occult, people who want a more cynic and pragmatic view in religion and people in constant relation or in risk of death
@@a.s.f.g.8345 Blame the nazarene for that and how his promises never are fullfilled
What’s the religion that doesn’t ask for money?
Yeah, that’s literally just breaking the first commandment. I’ve heard scary stories though of people who’ve tried leaving the Santa muerte cult and they’ll have these paranormal things happen to them. I wouldn’t mess with that stuff if you ever come across it again.
@@xiuhcoatl4830 speak for yourself.
It is interesting to know that death is called Muerte in Mexican language. In Samskritam(sanskrit) it is called Mrityu. Sounds similar. And Mrityu is embodied as a woman, deaf and dumb, so that she is impervious to the sufferings and pain of beings, in some Hindu Puranas while the God of Death is Yama or Dharma Raj.
Muerte is Spanish, ultimately it derives from the Proto Indo-European mértis. Sanskrit is also an IE language, so both words have the same origin!
How did you watch the video and not understand that in Mexico, Spanish is spoken. There is no "Mexican" language by name
@Don Eli there actually is! It's called Nahuatl but due to Mexico being formed, it stopped being called Mexican.
Fascinating...thanks for the upload.
The philosopher Philipp Mainlander also venerated Death in a very romantic light and viewed it as a good and desirable thing, ending all suffering, hardship, and struggle; he took this view so seriously he committed suicide. I wonder if his books are associated with her; I know his books are in Spanish.
That’s called depression and nihilism
This is a really fascinating video. I've often wondered about how traditional faiths and folk traditions, with their various spiritual powers, persist and even thrive under patriarchal, monotheistic religious contexts that say those powers either don't exist, or are actually evil. That might be a neat idea to dig into in the future!
It's kind of scary
@@Bicicletasaladas Great comment fam🙂🙌🏿
As a devotee to La Niña Santa muerte kinning her to violence is wrong she simply grants the grace to her devotees she isn’t evil and she isn’t wrong