Santa Muerte is the Folk Saint of Death. Her imagery is a blend of the European/Christian depictions of Death and indigenous Gods of death. Many see her as a Saint in the Catholic tradition but this is severely denounced by the official Catholic church, often called satanic and an afront to God. This has done little to deter the practitioners of Santa Muerte and she is one of the fastest growing beliefs systems in Central & North America.
Red symbolizes love, lust & passion.
One of the first public references to Santa Muerte happened in the early 1900's when local stories were told of small processions of women dressed in black going to make petitions to a robed skeleton. It was said the women were petitioning (Santa Muerte) for matters of love, including; help finding love, to help bring back or correct a wayward lover/husband or even to get revenge on a love lost.
Today, Santa Muerte is still asked to assist in matters of love and passion. Idols robed in red and/or candles in red are usually used to symbolize these requests.
Item is considered "prepared" by those devoted, bottom is hollowed out and filled with incense, herbs and wax used in religious preparation for a statue to an alter.
