My sister and I went to the capital to study in the university but we needed money to cover our expenses. We took advantage of our beauty and started working as dancers in a night club where the pay is very good. We thank Saint Bruno for our parents don’t know about it because they would get angry and make us return to the village.

Josefina and Raquel S. ~ Guadalajara, Jalisco

Delfina Rosas dedicates this retablo to the Virgin of the Solitude thanking her for fulfilling her dream—to participate in the celebrations of the Guelaguetza this year. It’s so exciting to be a part of such an important and beautiful Oaxacan tradition.

Oaxaca, Mexico

Serapio Papaqui thanks the Virgin of Guadalupe for letting him to keep dancing as hue hue at this year carnival. Last year he accidentally shot himself with carbine and almost died. He was afraid they wouldn’t let him to participate at the carnival after that accident and it’s been his family tradition for many years.

Huejotzingo, Puebla

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.

Genoveva Campos was performing a typical regional dance and fell off the stage. She thanks Saint Pancras with this retablo for not breaking her bones. She only felt little bit embarrassed.

I was participating in the quebradita contest with my group. When my partner lifted me up, my pants cracked really bad. I was really scared that because of me all my partners were going to be disqualified by the judges. I thank Saint Jude Thaddeus for the judges didn’t notice this embarrassing moment and we won the first prize.

Guillermina Sanchez ~ Sinaloa

My husband loved dancing a lot, and I preferred not to because I had two left feet. Then I found out that my husband was going to the cabaret just to dance, and just thinking of him being in the arms of another woman—even just for dances—made me frantic. I prayed the Virgin of Zapopan, and my friend Lolita gave me dancing lessons. By a miracle, I learned something, and now I’m dancing with my husband and feel myself much confident.

Isabel E. took a drug and, in her madness, went dancing like crazy on the church tower-bell. She thanks Saint Raymond with this retablo because the priest saved her from the people who wanted to linch her, and she promises to amend.

The Tlatempa brothers dedicate the present retablo to the Virgin of Guadalupe because she always protects them at their performances. They are the flying men of the village and are keeping this family tradition of many years.

Papantla, Veracruz, 1940

Angelica Telles got drunk of jealousy of seeing her cousin getting married. She undressed during the reception and started dancing naked. She thanks Saint Mariana for her family didn’t disown her and forgave her.

I thank the Virgin of the Valley because now I can stop worrying about this crafty Carlos—my little daughter Carmen’s boyfriend whom I don’t trust for a moment—putting his hands all over my girl. Now I’m playing maracas at the parties and I don’t loose him for a second while they dance.

My sister and I bring flowers to our grandmother’s grave on her birthdays. This time we went at the cemetery at night, and got there with the moonlight. We met some skeletons over there. They left their graves to get drunk. They met us with great joy and wanted to dance with us. We were scared and prayed the Virgin of Zapopan. She helped us to escape from the dead so they didn’t chase us. We thank for that.

I was a very insecure girl being overweight and developed many complexes. It made me feel very lovely, and I got very depressed. I thank Saint Rita for putting aside my prejudices and for inspiring me to take pole dance classes. It helped me to lose weight. Now I’m very happy with my new figure and my new life.

Angelina Chavez \ Cancun, Quintana Roo