The cult of the Santa Muerte in Mexico

The article examines the peculiarities of the development of the cult of the Santa Muerte, which emerged in Mexico in the late XX century as a result of a combination of popular Catholicism and a modern reinterpretation of pre-Columbian beliefs. The cult of the Santa Muerte is loosely institutionalized and is primarily a reflection of individual religiosity. Adherents of the cult worship the Death as the great equalizer and the one who can provide assistance to her devotees. The cult has several million followers, most of whom continue to consider themselves Catholics. The cult of the Santa Muerte is viewed negatively by the government, which associates it with the narcoculture. If successfully enculturated, the Cult of the Santa Muerte or elements of it could transcend the boundaries of the ethnic community of Mexicans.

Keywords

cult of the Santa Muerte, drug culture, folk Catholicism, syncretism, Santeria

Received

02.10.2021

Publication date

04.04.2022

Number of characters

22521

Cite

GOST	Myazin N. The cult of the Santa Muerte in Mexico // Latin America – 2022. – Issue 4 C. 89-99 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://latamerica-journal.ru/S0044748X0019318-8-1 (circulation date: 07.05.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S0044748X0019318-8
MLA	Myazin, Nikolay "The cult of the Santa Muerte in Mexico." Latin America 4 (2022):89-99. DOI: 10.31857/S0044748X0019318-8
APA	Myazin N. (2022). The cult of the Santa Muerte in Mexico. Latin America (4), pp.89-99 DOI: 10.31857/S0044748X0019318-8

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