MEXICAN SAINT WALLET

The Saint Wallet is a bit of Mexican Catholic folk-magic that utilizes religious imagery to effect magical results. Shaped just like a regular money-wallet, but measuring only 1 1/2" x 2" when folded and snapped shut, this crochet-edged vinyl-and-rayon compendium of symbols unfolds to its full 4 3/4" x 2" and reveals a Sacred Heart of Jesus, a Virgin of Guadalupe, a tiny saint medal hung from glass seed-beads, two swatches of diminutive reproductions of old hand-tinted photo-postcards of saints, a piece of a genuine novena prayer folded up and wrapped in yellow cellophane, and two more-or-less random saint-prints, one within the wallet itself and the other displayed on the vinyl back-flap when the item is opened.

The saint wallet shown here was scanned for me by Emily Hackbarth. It is made with pink rayon and purple vinyl, but other colour schemes abound. It features Saint Martin de Porres, but the list of saints used in these wallets is extensive and includes Saint Christopher, Nino de Atocha, Saint Anthony, Saint Michael Archangel, the Infant of Prague, Saint Raymond, Saint Hilarion, and numerous variant Crucifixions and Blessed Virgin Marys.

The matter of selecting which saint to carry on one's person is complex. Certain saints are invoked for the protection of travellers, others to cure specific diseases, and still others to bring money to the bearer. In addition, no matter what specific benefits a given saint may be thought to confer, it is also customary among Catholics to carry a medal or saint print bearing the likenesses of one's name-sake saint; thus a man named Juan might want a print of Saint John the Baptist in his wallet in addition to the omnipresent Mexican image of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

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Note: Although saint wallets contain no indigenous or pagan "lucky" symbolism and are comprised entirely of Catholic religious elements, they are best understood as a special form of Latin American package amulet.

Here are all the illustrated package amulet pages in the Archive:

Latin American package amulets, general information

Guatemalan package amulet: miniature horseshoe with print of Maximon

Guatemalan package amulet: miniature pillow with print of Maximon

Mexican package amulet: miniature horseshoe with print of San Martin Caballero

Mexican package amulet: El Secreto de la Virtuosa Herradura

Mexican package amulet: saint wallet

Mexican package amulet: three coins, Holy Trinity, and the Seven African Powers

Mexican package amuet: stuffed bag with print of San Martin Caballero

Peruvian package amulet: collage of magical items

Peruvian package amulet: metal saints, broom, and Ormosia seed

post-modern package amulet: matchbox shrine

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