Santisima Scapulary

The Santisima Scapulary is the smallest religious garment for Santa Muerte devotees and consists of two small pieces of fabric embroidered with Santa Muerte, connected by a fairly sturdy strap. Given the small surface area, the embroidery is quite detailed and is accented by delicate red and silver metallic effects and a zigzag outline stitch. The scapulary is simply worn under clothing with one of the amulets facing forward and the other on the back for protection from behind - the red back is made of pleasantly soft material that is barely noticeable against the skin. Of course, this religious good luck charm is also a great addition to a Santa Muerte shrine; in Mexico, we often see Santa Muerte scapularys displayed alongside other items on the rearview mirror of a car. 

The two pieces of fabric each measure 4 x 2.5 cm
The unfolded scapular measures 47 cm and fits over any head

The cult of Santa Muerte has tens of thousands of followers across all segments of Mexican society - of all the folk saints, the Saint of Death enjoys by far the greatest popularity. The Catholic Church classifies the cult of Santa Muerte as a pagan ritual and even suppresses it in many places, but this does not deter her followers from worshipping the skeletal woman with a scythe at countless small shrines throughout the country for love,health,  happiness, financial and professional success, and personal protection. Santa Muerte differs from other Mexican folk saints primarily in that she is known by the name Mictecacihuatl as an ancient Aztec goddess of death and ruler of the underworld. For this reason, and given their classification of the Santa Muerte cult as a pagan ritual, Catholics must confront the accusation that they banished an ancient Aztec deity here in the course of the conquest and Christianization of Mexico.