At the Christmas party in the neighborhood, I went to put some liquor in my punch. Since I was already tipsy I got into the piñata event and was kicked in the head. I give thanks to the Holy Child of Atocha because I got only the lump. I promise not to drink so much on December holidays.

Celedonio Hernandez \ Zacatecas, Mexico

I thank my Holy Virgin for having given me strength and power to defend myself from my buddy Alberto Cruz when he wanted once again to take advantage of me while my husband was completely drunk.

Yesenia Dante, Mexico City

Pascual Diaz was in the mountains, and some very drunk skeletons appeared to him. They tried to take him with them. But I implored the Holy Face, and you saved me.

Chihuahua, 1942

*** Garcia went to the cemetery to get drunk. He fell asleep. When he woke up he saw that the dead left their tombs. He was frightened and implored the Virgin of Guadalupe. Thanks to her protection he was able to escape from the cemetery safe and sound.

I used to drink pulque with my buddy every day, but one night that witch my mother-in-law and my wife kicked me off the bar with their brooms. I thank Saint Raymond for I didn’t become an idiot after so many blows since that old nag was absolutely furious and was hitting me with all her might. I promise to stop drinking because it’s better to not mess with these women.

Eulogio Coronel \ Teziutlan, Puebla

Roberto Garcia came home pretty drunk. He took a brazier for a chair and burned his buttocks. He thanks the Lord of the Wonders with this retablo for healing them up.

Arturo Saldivar used to drink three liters of cherry pulque every day until he was diagnosed with diabetes. Arturo entrusted himself to Saint James and now thanks him with great devotion because the saint gave him the strength to resist the temptation of getting drunk.

I thank Saint Quiteria of Frexeiras for weaning my husband off his mistresses, drinks and damned gambling.

Ana Luisa A.da Rocha
Garanhuns, Pernambuco

I bring this retablo as my eternal gratitude to the Virgin of the Solitude for helping me to overcome this sin, because before I spent my life and my health on drinking all days long in bars and canteens. But now I’m sober and even got a job.

Luciano Mendoza \ Oaxaca

The mariachi singer Juan Jose Ruiz came to perform in a restaurant while being drunk. The audience got angry and started to throw food at him. He was hit in the eye. He thanks Saint Pancras for the recovery and promises to be more professional.

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.

Lucia N. dedicates the present retablo to Saint Maroun thanking him for not getting pregnant after having unprotected sex with an American young man. He was with a group of spring-breakers. They had a party on a beach, and they invited her to join. They were drinking a lot of beer, and she didn’t realize what she was doing. She was very much worried what her parents would think, but now she’s calmed down. She promises to be more responsible.

Los Cabos, Baja California

Miss Gudelia Zavaleta loved to flirt with her neighbors until one day one of them got into her window while being drunk. She thanks the Virgin of San Juan for he wasn’t able to rape her.