Our Most Holy Death: The phenomenon of the cult of Saint Death in Mexico

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is brief presentation of  learning and development of the cult of Saint Death, and to indicate to the interest in anthropology and religious studies on this phenomenon that contributes to a better understanding of this interesting topic. It is certainly not an exhaustive study on this issue, but only a starting point for further, more comprehensive and interdisciplinary researches. The cult of Saint Death is increasingly popular, not only in Mexico but also in neighboring countries, such as Guatemala, El Salvador and the United States. The cult of Saint Death is already a social phenomenon which has yet to be systematically explored, especially as this syncretic religious system is very popular among the Mexican underworld: drug dealers, street vendors, taxi drivers, vendors, piracy, street children, prostitutes, pickpockets, criminal gangs and murderers.