Santa Muerte (Saint Death), otherwise known as La Santísima Muerte, and as Doña Sebastiana, is a "folk saint" or "mystical saint," in Mexico and Spanish speaking countries. She is a very popular religious figure, who receives petitions for love, luck, and protection. As the Spanish word for "death" (muerte) is feminine gender, "death" is often referred to as female.

The Catholic Church does not recognize Santa Muerte, but Mexicans affectionately refer to her as La Flaquita, "the skinny girl."

Santa Muerte is depicted as a skeleton and has both female and male representations. When male, he is frequently represented as the familiar Grim Reaper with a scythe and scales. In the male form, he is frequently referred to as La Parka (the Scythe). Another name people use for her is La Catrina which is her classic image in the Dia de los Muertos art of Jose Guadalupe Posada which represents her as a skeleton woman, who is gaily dressed up for high society. Santa Muerte is also depicted in a long white satin gown and a golden crown. (In this form, many devotees view her as the Madonna as a skeleton.) These skeleton images are not considered morbid.

(c) 2007 M Woodling

Although she is not recognized as a saint by the Vatican, many people insist on praying to this figure for blessings and miracles. Statuary and amulets depicting her skeletal form and printed prayer cards and Novena booklets for her can be purchased throughout Mexico. The Novena de la Santisima Muerte apparently involves three novenas, with orthodox Catholic prayers which must be recited over 27 days. Statues are made in red, white, green and black – for love, luck, financial success, and protection.

The controversial saint is sometimes associated with marital fidelity, and is often used in love spells. In art, skeleton brides and grooms are depicted dancing, indicating a joyous life together and love until death. Traditional offerings to Santa Muerte include roses and tequila. Around Los Dias de los Muertos (Days of the Dead) public shrines to her are adorned with red roses and bottles of tequila, and candles are burnt in her honor. One source indicates that the cult of Santa Muerte largely originated in the 1960's as part of certain magical practices. Others trace this personification of death as developing during the medieval carnivals in European Catholic countries.

(c) 2007 M Woodling

Others, however, claim Santa Muerte's roots can be found in pre-Christian beliefs of Aztec Indians who worshipped Mictecacihuatl, the Goddess of Death, and her husband, Mictlantecuhtli, the God of Death.

As Santa Muerte is a "folk saint," there are many different traditions about her. Intriguingly, there are some Mexican traditions, most notably among the descendants of Austrian immigrants, in which Santa Muerte is believed to be the wife of Krampus. Krampus is an Austrian wintertime folklore spirit, who wears black and a horned mask.

Santa Muerte has a complete system of devotions ascribed to her. Hence, Santa Muerte can grant many different types of petitions. There are very few folk saints that are believed to have this much power. Santa Muerte is one of those rare multifaceted spirits.

Copyright 2007 Myth Woodling

Mr. Bones dressed up as Santa Muerte for CPC Samhain
Santa Muerte at Samhain 2009
Prayers to Santa Muerte