The other night my friend and I went to the bar to drink some tequilas. But we lost control, and after a while got so drunk and sentimental talking about our fails in love that when we realized what was going on we were pretty close to each another and ready to kiss. We thank Saint James the Apostle for we got our conscience back and didn’t do it. We remain being friends as usual.

Lucio & Ramiro ~ Jalisco, Mexico

I give perpetual thanks to the general Virgin of Zapopan because, although she didn’t reclaim my husband Astrolopiteco Coronado from the vice, she at least granted him a job as a tequila master sommelier. Doña Carlota Sauza thanks with this exvoto. Emmanuel Espin painted it to please her.

Jalisco, Mexico, 2020

Pedro, with few tequilas in his head, stabbed his buddy because of a calumny, as he was told that his buddy was having love affairs with his wife. When he found out the truth, he repented and implored the Virgin of Guadalupe to save his buddy’s from dying promising to offer a retablo. Now I keep my promise because he forgave me and we are friends again. We give thanks.

Tacubaya, Mexico, October 2, 1963

Every time my colleagues and I went to sing serenades I used to pass a couple of tequilas to warm up my voice. But lately I was going out of hand with it to the extent of coming drunk and spoiling the serenades. I thank Saint Cecily because my colleagues gave me another opportunity, and I promised them to become an abstinent mariachi again.

Paulino Fernandez
Aguascalientes, Mexico

Luis Manuel Ramirez, together with two investors, managed to create a very successful tequila brand which starts taking the world. That’s why he made this retablo to witness his gratitude to Saint Martin the Cavalryman.

I thank the Holy Virgin of Guadalupe for letting me put offerings to my dead. I saved some money for everything—mole, tequila, sweets, flowers, tamale. I beg for my dear ones so they rest in peace and find eternal light.

Drunk skeletons appeared to Rafael Contreras, they wanted to make him drunk with tequila. But he implored the Holy Face and got free from them.

Guadalajara, 1955

The other night my friend and I went to the bar to drink some tequilas. But we lost control, and after a while got so drunk and sentimental talking about our fails in love that when we realized what was going on we were pretty close to each another and ready to kiss. We thank the Lord of Chalma for we have our conscience back and didn’t do it. We remain being friends as usual.

Juan N. and Silvestre R. ~ Tonala, Jalisco

We went to visit our friends. My buddy and I drank tequila while our wives were gossiping about the people in the village. We were coming back late and saw the devil chasing us, of course because we had been bad. In fear we implored Saint Michale the Archangel, and he came to save us from the demon because he knew we weren’t bad people but just that night. The Archangel scared the devil and his horse away and sent them back to hell.

I dedicate this retablo to the Holy Guardian Angel because it’s been few days since I noticed that my wife stopped hiding the tequila in the coffee can. Before she used to get drunk and we were thinking she was having breakfast with a cup of harmless and tasty coffee while it was delicious and expensive tequila she was drinking.

There was a girl whom I liked very much. But I was scared to tell her. So one night I went to the bar to drink some tequila in order to have courage. Then I went to sing her a serenade, but I was so drunk I got a wrong balcony and sang it to the old maiden of the town. I give thanks to Saint Rita because neither she nor her family recognized me, otherwise, if I had kept singing, they would’ve married me. I promise to be brave in declaring my love feelings to a woman.

Serapio Herrada
Tehuacan, Puebla

Every time my colleagues and I went to sing serenades I used to pass a couple of tequilas to warm up my voice. But lately I was going out of hand with it to the extent of coming drunk and spoiling the serenades. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because my colleagues gave me another opportunity, and I promised them to become an abstinent mariachi again.

Saturnino Fernandez
Zapopan, Jalisco