Every November 2, I go to the cemetery to visit my dead father and to bring him flowers and candles. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe with this retablo for, despite the modern age and the passage of time, this beautiful tradition didn’t go away. We remember our dear ones who are not with us physically anymore, and it gives us hope to see them again one day.

San Andres Mixquic, Mexico

I, Elias, give thanks because I lived in depression and sin. I ended up at the cemetery where I came to visit my dead aunt Nola and uncle Naldo. That day I cried, I cut my arms, I crawled on the graves and start drinking. At that moment, I begged them to help me to quit my vices. Suddenly serpents came out of my chest. Since that day I felt relieved after 8 years of addiction. Now I’m a new person. Thanks for the favor, aunt Nolfa and uncle Naldo.

I, Elias Olea
San Bernardo, Stgo, July 2021

The great wrestler El Santo thanks the Virgin of Guadalupe for delivering him from the evil that attacked him and wanted to take him away.

Mexico City, Mexico, 1965

El Goyo Servantes was passing by the cemetery and met the spirit of his buddy who demanded to leave his wife in peace or he would take him out of this world. He thanks Saint Jude Thaddeus for his hateful buddy didn’t hurt him.

Puebla, 1915

Chavelita Robledo became a widow. In order to cover the funeral spendings, she began selling hojaldras pastries at the cemetery. The things went very well, and she thanks the Virgin of Juquila with the present retablo for such good luck.

November 2, Fidencio and Laureano Trejo went to the cemetery to drink and met a mister who sat on a grave. He wanted to give them a chest full of gold so they would keep enjoying their sin, but suddenly the brothers realized it was a dead man who was speaking with them. They implored Saint Benedict for help to protect them and not to let anything happen to them. They promise to cut down on booze and respect the dead.

Oaxaca, Mexico

When I was sick with jaundice I used to have terrible nightmares in which I was going to the cemetery, and there skeletons raped me, and those bastards even took turns.

Juliana Mejia T.
Mexico City, 1967

Every November 2, I go to the cemetery to visit my dead father and to bring him flowers and candles. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe with this retablo for, despite the modern age and the passage of time, this beautiful tradition didn’t go away. We remember our dear ones who are not with us physically anymore, and it gives us hope to see them again one day.

San Andres Mixquic, Mexico

Thanks, Holy Virgin, for your help on the Day of the Dead when we went to the cemetery to bring flowers to my uncle Reinaldo, may he rest in peace. Suddenly two gringos fell on the grave because it was raining quite heavily. But thanks because, although they fell right on the grave, they didn’t smash the offerings for my uncle so he could eat properly. That’s why I thank for your mercy.

Alejandra R. and Alberto M. were fucking at the cemetery, and the dead attacked them. They thank Saint Jude, with the present retablo, because they managed to escape. They promise not to get in sacred places.

Thanks to the Holy Death for showing me, in the time I was working at the cemetery, that the most important thing is to be happy.

2016

My husband Eusebio could only find a job at the cemetery. But he is easily frightened. I ask you, please Holy Virgin, would you find him another job.

Left grave:
Finally. Rest in peace, my mother-in-law.

Right grave:
Here lies Ramon H. G. and does good. He was a bad father, bad husband, bad son, bad man.

My father didn’t like that I had a boyfriend, so Alejandro and I had to meet secretly. One night we were at the cemetery where no one could see us. We were sitting on a grave and talking when we heard a music. We saw the dead leaving their graves and having a party. They played instruments and danced. We were very much frightened. We thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for we could escape and the skeletons didn’t see us.