10.5"H Jesus Malverde Angel of the Poor Sinaloa Figurine

Jesus Malverde also known as the "generous bandit" or "angel of the poor", is a folklore hero in the Mexican state of Sinaloa.

Like all folk heroes/saints, he is unjustly considered a "narco-saint" but to those who know him this is an oversimplification. In a time of haciendas of the 1800-1900s, which were more akin to American slave plantations than gentlemen ranches of today. He was a bandit, known for rebelling and stealing from the rich and sharing his plunders with the poor of the Sinoloa.

Like all disenfranchised youth of any culture, it is a hard temptation to be lured away from their anonymous lives of poverty to the (of course a bad choice) of wealth and purpose that isn't available to them any other way. They bring their beliefs to anything they do, even the life of a narco.

Government law enforcement (Mexican & US) will often put on display, along with confiscated guns, drugs and money. As a show of deviance in the belief in this Hero-Saint is...of course if they find a Christian cross or other tadeonal Christian iconography it doesn't make the table. (one must assume that they do, to this day 60-70% of Mexico is Catholic, even the criminals)

Not all who pay homage or consider Malverde are are criminals; they might live on the fringe or "outside" but not all. Like every culture, the poor and forgotten see the world pass them by, as if just living in the world and not as part of it. This would leave many to find their own way to faith, and to most they see Jesus Malerde as a Saint, in the Catholic tradition. The Catholic church (for obvious reasons) denounces this.

Like Santa Muerte, his believers are often looked past by the more traditional church ideologies. He is a more relatable, "local", saint, unlike the European Saints more often followed with the Catholics. This familiarity helps the local Mexican people, those who have to do what they have to, to survive a connection with God...where the traditional church seems to overlook them. 

His stories and colorful visage are more akin to Robin Hood than the dark menacing figure often portrayed. Robbing from the rich giving to the poor & standing up to a corrupt, oppressive governance. It is a pleasure to research and I encourage any interested to do so.

This Jesus Malverde figurine will add a splash of color to your home and a bit of story to tell to those who will ask...and they will ;)

Product Dimensions: 5"W X 10.5"H X6"D

Materials: unknown (resin possibly)

Made in China