Home altars of Mexico

By Ramón A. Gutiérrez

Book Description

Journey into the sacred heart of Mexican homes through this remarkable photographic exploration of domestic spiritual practice. For more than ten years, photographer Dana Salvo gained unprecedented access to indigenous communities across Mexico's central highlands and southern regions, documenting an intimate aspect of daily spiritual life rarely witnessed by outsiders.

From the Purepechan people of Michoacan to the Chamulan and Zinacantan communities of Chiapas, from Maya families in the Yucatan to other rural groups throughout the countryside, Salvo captures the profound devotion expressed through altarcitos, the home altars that serve as spiritual centers in these traditional dwellings. These stunning large-format color photographs reveal the intricate beauty and careful attention that families pour into creating these sacred spaces within their homes.

The visual documentation is enriched by scholarly essays that illuminate the deep cultural and historical roots of domestic altar construction, tracing connections between ancient indigenous traditions and contemporary spiritual practices. This unique window into Mexican religious life demonstrates how sacred space can be cultivated within the home, offering inspiration for anyone seeking to understand how spiritual devotion manifests in daily domestic life.

Through respectful documentation of these private spiritual expressions, readers discover how ordinary homes become vessels for the sacred, bridging ancestral wisdom with modern faith practices.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~4 hours)

🕉️ Tradition: Comparative Religion

📄 Length: 138 pages

What You'll Discover

✓ Explore Religion
✓ Explore Indians of Mexico
✓ Explore Mexico, social life and customs
✓ Explore Shrines
✓ Explore Indians of mexico, religion
✓ Explore Household shrines
✓ Explore Mexico, religion
✓ Explore Religious life and customs

Topics Covered

Religion Indians of Mexico Mexico, social life and customs Shrines Indians of mexico, religion Household shrines Mexico, religion Religious life and customs