â About ExVotos o Retablitos (Votive paintings)
An exvoto is an illustrated object offered by a person to a divinity fulfilling a promise made after such divinity made something come true, usually something that cannot be obtained through natural methods.Â
It can also be seen as a way to admire or revere a saint for making wishes come true. They have been a long standing Mexican tradition, and they are vital to understand Mexican culture. A lot of exvotos talk about and represent Mexican nature, including mountains, animals, rivers, lakes, etc.
Some are funny, some are hearbreaking and some are very representative of our country, in its best and worst ways.Â
In this way of connecting humans with divinities, the narrator is not the priest or nun anymore but the normal person. They are free to tell the story and the wish as they want. This includes also the way of speaking and the spelling or lack thereof.
I grew up seeing these everywhere but never until a few years ago did I understood their importance, value and beauty.Â
I have a couple hanging up on my walls back home in Mexico, and Iâm thinking about doing one myself.Â
Exvotos taken out of IG account @retablitos
âA Francisco RamĂrez lo agarraron robando una tienda y el pueblo ya lo querĂa linchar agradece infinitamente en este retablo a San Elias que las autoridas llegaron a tiempo y lo salvaron de petatiarse.â
âAredio Rodriguez dedica esta laminita pues al tratar de llegar a los EUA casi morimos pues el rĂo Bravo venĂa con mucha agua todo por la culpa de Donald Trump gringo loco racista kukusklan quiere hacer el muro âMĂ©xicoâ es todo su pais. Los Angeles California a 16 de agosto del 2017.â
âEl señor Catarino Pacheco agradece con mucho fervor en este retablo al Señor de la misericordia de que salvĂł la vida cuando el Terremoto tumbo su jacal y solo se le murieron dos marranos del chiqueroâ
âEl hijo de la vecina era un sinverguenza y descarado que se andaba besuquiando con mi hija Adriana por los rincones oscuros⊠Doy gracias a la Virgen de Zapopan porque mandaron al chamaco a estudiar a Monterreyâ