| Following the Trail of the Urban Miracle Seekers I. Origin and Practice of the Cult of the Animitas Currently an urban popular religion, this practice originated in the countryside and was brought to the cities by rural migrants in the 19th century. Prior to this massive migration, peasants venerated the souls of famous bandits killed by the Chilean authorities. These bandits were known in popular lore for sharing their riches with the poor. The veneration consisted of conducting prayers and leaving flowers and candles in the actual places where the bandits had died in exchange for miracles. When the new urban residents joined the workforce and experienced a wide range of oppressive circumstances, this practice became widespread in the cities. They struggled with inadequate housing, epidemics, high crime and exploitative, unhealthy working conditions, finding in the souls of those who had died violent and unjust deaths supernatural allies who could sympathize with their problems. Throughout the 20th century, the cult of the animitas has become one tool used by subordinated classes to obtain help the institutionalized religions don't provide and to express the injustices of everyday life. |
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©2005, 2006, 2007 Lydia Nakashima Degarrod All rights reserved. |