La Santa Muerte: Underworld Saint Goes North of the Border
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}in this Feb. 13, 2013 photo, statues of La Santa Muerte are shown at the Masks y Mas art store in Albuquerque, N.M. La Santa Muerte, an underworld saint most recently associated with the violent drug trade in Mexico, now is spreading throughout the U.S. among a new group of followers ranging from immigrant small business owners to artists and gay activists. In addition to showing up at drug crime scenes, the once-underground icon has been spotted on passion candles in Richmond, Va. grocery stores. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras)
In this Feb. 12, 2013 photo, an altar to La Sante Muerte run by Arely Vazquez Gonzalez, a Mexican immigrant and transgender woman, is shown inside a Queens, NY apartment. La Santa Muerte, an underworld saint most recently associated with the violent drug trade in Mexico, now is spreading throughout the U.S. among a new group of followers ranging from immigrant small business owners to artists and gay activists. In addition to showing up at drug crime scenes, the once-underground icon has been spotted on passion candles in Richmond, Va. grocery stores. The folk saint's image can be seen inside New York City apartments, in Minneapolis religious shops and during art shows in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras) (AP2013)
In this Feb. 12, 2013 photo, a statue of La Sante Muerte from an altar run by Arely Vazquez Gonzalez, a Mexican immigrant and transgender woman, is shown at inside a Queens, NY apartment. La Santa Muerte, an underworld saint most recently associated with the violent drug trade in Mexico, now is spreading throughout the U.S. among a new group of followers ranging from immigrant small business owners to artists and gay activists. In addition to showing up at drug crime scenes, the once-underground icon has been spotted on passion candles in Richmond, Va. grocery stores. The folk saint's image can be seen inside New York City apartments, in Minneapolis religious shops and during art shows in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras)
in this Feb. 13, 2013 photo, statues of La Santa Muerte are shown at the Masks y Mas art store in Albuquerque, N.M. La Santa Muerte, an underworld saint most recently associated with the violent drug trade in Mexico, now is spreading throughout the U.S. among a new group of followers ranging from immigrant small business owners to artists and gay activists. In addition to showing up at drug crime scenes, the once-underground icon has been spotted on passion candles in Richmond, Va. grocery stores. The folk saint's image can be seen inside New York City apartments, in Minneapolis religious shops and during art shows in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras) (AP2013)
In this Feb. 12, 2013 photo, Arely Vazquez Gonzalez, a Mexican immigrant and transgender woman, is shown with her alter to La Sante Muerte at her Queens, NY apartment. La Santa Muerte, an underworld saint most recently associated with the violent drug trade in Mexico, now is spreading throughout the U.S. among a new group of followers ranging from immigrant small business owners to artists and gay activists. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras) (AP2013)
In this Feb. 12, 2013 photo, an offering to a statue of La Sante Muerte at an altar run by Arely Vazquez Gonzalez, a Mexican immigrant and transgender woman, is shown at inside a Queens, NY apartment. La Santa Muerte, an underworld saint most recently associated with the violent drug trade in Mexico, now is spreading throughout the U.S. among a new group of followers ranging from immigrant small business owners to artists and gay activists. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras)
In this Feb. 12, 2013 photo, statues of La Sante Muerte from an altar run by Arely Vazquez Gonzalez, a Mexican immigrant and transgender woman, is shown inside a Queens, NY apartment. La Santa Muerte, an underworld saint most recently associated with the violent drug trade in Mexico, now is spreading throughout the U.S. among a new group of followers ranging from immigrant small business owners to artists and gay activists. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras) (AP2013)