Santa Muerte has been called the “fastest-growing religion in the Americas.” Join religion scholar Brian Carwana for an introduction to this devotion centered on Saint Death—or the “Bony Lady”—a female figure often likened to the Grim Reaper. Her devotees in Mexico and elsewhere have grown rapidly in recent decades, much to the dismay of Catholic and Pentecostal churches. This lecture also explores the Day of the Dead, a tradition that is unrelated to Santa Muerte but also features skeletons in an unusual event that mixes mourning with festivity. Together, these practices offer insight into how death is understood, commemorated, and given meaning in Mexico and other Latin American cultures.
Join us at the Main Library on Monday, October 28, at 4:00 pm for a virtual lecture and lively post-watch discussion to explore Santa Muerte & the Day of the Dead.
