My husband and I organized the New Year’s Eve party in our house. We all got drunk, and I ended up having sex with my husband’s colleague. I wholeheartedly thank Saint Raymond because my husband has never found out about it. Although I feel remorse, it was an emotional and exciting adventure.

I wanted to surprise my family so I dressed up as Santa Claus and got in the house to put the gifts around. One thing I didn’t think through is that my dog Rambo wouldn’t recognize me, attack me and chase all around the house. I thank Saint Charbel for my wife could hold the dog before he did more damage to the house and bit my rented Santa Claus costume in pieces.

Abelino Torres, Puebla

I wanted to add more realism to my character from the pastorale, and I had an idea to put more flares. By accident, I put the tail of my costume on fire. I thank the Lord of Chalma for one of my companions acted fast and found an extinguisher. If not I would have got all burned because everybody was thinking it was part of our performance.

Cirilo Reyes, Mexico City

I give infinite thanks to Saint George with this exvoto for having won the gran prix and the first place in the skeet shooting competition that took place in my town. The competition was tough, there was many good participants, but with my good marksmanship I was able to become the winner.

David Palomares ~ Moroleon, Guanajuato

Evarista Rosales dedicates this humble retablo to the Virgin of Juquila for having sent her a “muxe” son. She had no daughters and now she won’t be ever alone because her son would always accompany her, and he is the pride of the family.

Juchitan, Oaxaca, Mexico

Notes:
Muxe is a man who dresses and behaves as women. This tradition originated in pre-Columbian cultures. While muxes may be seen as a third gender, they aren’t considered to be transsexuals.

Señor Fausto Lopez always liked the colors of the carnivals. With the present retablo, he thanks Saint Veronica for having visited the Carnival in Veracruz this year. He made many photos of the celebration because photography is his big passion.

I persuaded my girlfriend Juanita to make love right in the field where no one could see us. She was so excited she accidentally kicked me in my balls with her knee. I give infinite thanks to the Holy Child of Atocha for the blow wasn’t very serious as I was afraid not being able to have children.

Arnulfo Martinez ~ Zamora, Michoacan

We dedicate this small retablo to Saint Jude Thaddeus, with eternal gratitude, for working the miracle of saving our brother Tomas from the bullet that the army shot in his leg, and we were able to get back to our families.

Lucas and Pascual Cruz
Durango, Mexico

My old man Cirilo used to drink in the bar with his friends. I was very desperate because he couldn’t stop. I begged the Holy Lord of Chalma to help him to quit this sin, and thanks to his divine intervention my old man amended his ways and became a good worker.

Domitila Castrejon ~ Tlaquepaque, Jalisco

I thank Saint Paschal Baylon with this retablo for having met my Maria. I love Mexican food, and she is an excellent cook. I used to travel a lot to Mexico for my work, then we met and got married and I stayed here. I’m very happy because she cooks for me, with great love, mole, quesadillas, chalupas, tacos and many other delicious dishes.

Robert Johnson \ Mexico City

I love Mexican culture, especially their regional dances. I always had a dream to travel to Mexico to see them. I thank Saint Charbel becasue I visited the state of Chiapas and saw the traditional Parachicos dance that blew me away with its colors and beauty.

John Richardson

Adriano Castillo, the guitarist of the rock band “The Black Cats”, got his hair on fire at the end of a gig when the sparklers at the end of his guitar exploded. He was very frightened. He thanks Saint Augustine for his face didn’t burn and he just lost part of his full head of hair.

Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico

My colleague from the route and I were racing against each other. We were going under a red light and almost hit some people crossing the street. I thank Saint Jude Thaddeus for we managed to come to our senses in time and understood that we have to drive carefully to not cause an accident and hurt innocent people with our foolery.

Pascual Carreon, Mexico City