I thank Saint Peter for letting Salome Pineda who died in a car accident to come and eat the offerings on October 28, the day of the killed. I told her how much I love her and that she shouldn’t worry and that I look after her two sons from her third marriage.

The cuckold, 28–10–2000

Inocencio Fernandez was in the bar, being well drunk after a lot of mezcal. He began to see many skeletons. They came close to him, and one of them asked “Why you are alone?” It was the Death in person who tried to take him. He thanks Saint Michael for he could escape safe and sound, running out of the bar, before dying on that November 2. He promised to amend his ways.

Tlaxcala, Mexico

I was very ill with high fever, and the Grim Reaper in person appeared in front of my bed. I tried to scare him with a crucifix, but since he’s not a vampire or the devil, he didn’t paid much attention and continued to crouch over my bed. Then my dog came running to my bedroom, very excited to see so many tasty bones. The dog jumped on Death’s leg. Death was horrified by thinking of being gnawed by a dog and ran away. I felt better then and healed. I’m grateful for staying alive.

Elena Villa was the most brave of all the women soldiers. That’s why I make this exvoto in your name. God bless you.

Jalisco, 1949

Maria Jose thanks Saint Francis, saint patron of the animals, because, although Quintilliano died last year, she still enjoys the company of Kokoro, Pepino and Señor.

I dedicate this memory to my Holy Virgin of the Rosary from Talpa for the great miracle she worked for me by saving my life form the imminent danger when I got under the water of Mexican gulf after our plane fell down. My partner Ancil Neal Womack died and I survived ten distressed days, by the mercy of the waves, without food or water, not to mention other dangers that pursued me.

Matamoros, Tamaulipas
February 19, 1948

Aviator pilot Esteban de Leon Ch.

With this retablo, I’d like to thank Saint Jude Thaddeus for all the times he has saved me from death. I always entrust myself to him because I know I’m a hard case.

Johny

I was gravely ill with my liver, and I was in deadly danger. Then I implored the sky not to let me die and not to leave my poor children unprotected. But I got only worse, and then I died, and my husband went off with my cousin and didn’t want to have anything with my children. I leave this retablo as testimony.

Domitila Ochoa Razo, October 10, 1937

I was alone and very sick in my bed when I saw the Death in my door. He sent a bunch of skeleton on me. They were joking about me, laughing and dancing around. I implored the Virgin of San Juan, and she appeared shinning. Her brightness scared the Death and the skeletons away, and they left me in peace. I thank because I also got better after this.

January 28, 1982

Anselmo Barrientos was resting after the work in the field. He was drinking pulque when the bony Death appeared. Anselmo wasn’t a young man, but still he had no desire to die yet. He prayed the Lord of Blue Eye. The Lord scared the Death away, and it left Anselmo in peace.

Texcoco, Mexico, 1923

Artemio Mendosa brings this retablo thanking the Virgin of San Juan for protecting him from the bullets of a peon and playing a dirty trick on himself instead because he was killed by a venomous viper.

Puebla, 1908

I, a street musician, was walking with my doggies Canico and Capi, when suddenly the bony death appeared dancing to the rhythm of my violin. I was so scared, I implored the Holy Cross, and it disappeared.

Anastacio Valdez

Saint Rita of Cascia, I offer you this ex-voto thanking you for not giving me diabetes because I got very much frightened when I was passing by drunk and the Death and the Devil himself appeared to me. I ran away to my house because my stomach was bursting. But then I realized it was the Day of the Dead and people dressed up like that to ask for sweets because it’s the tradition of all Mexicans. Viva la Catrina and those who celebrate the Day of the Dead!

Grateful chilango, November 1 and 2, 2014
Mixquic, Mexico City