Introduction
The Santos Tradition
Devotion to saints was introduced to Puerto Rico in the sixteenth century by Spanish colonists who used representations of saints for devotion and prayer as well as aids in the conversion of the native Taíno indians and Africans who had been brought to the island as slaves. During Puerto Rico's pre-industrial period, from about 1850 to 1940, carved images of saints served an important role in rural communities, where churches were scarce and poor roads made access to churches difficult. Although the practice is less common today, rural homes often included a niche or a shelf that served as the home altar for carved images of a favorite saint or group of saints. These simple altars were often decorated with prayer cards, candles and rosaries as well as family photographs and mementos.
For the believer, each santo figure is imbued with the saint's spirit whom they invoke through prayer to intercede with God on their behalf. For example, saints might be asked to help bring about physical healing or spiritual consolation, to help one find a mate or to ensure the safe return of a loved one. Saints are rewarded for favors granted with modest offerings of flowers and milagros (miniature representations in silver or other metal symbolizing parts of the body that had been healed from disease or injury). Special celebrations are held on the memorial day or feast day of a favorite saint who is honored as the patron or guardian of the household or of the community. These elaborate festivities, also known as fiestas patronales, bring people together for prayer, music, food, and socializing and involve special rituals such as the velorio (prayer vigil accompanied by music) or rosario cantado (rosary prayers accompanied by religious songs).
Home altar in Lares, Puerto Rico (1999)
Contemporary Santeros
In decline by the 1940s because of various religious, political and economic factors, the tradition of carving santos has been undergoing an important revival. The tradition continues today in the form of more than 100 carvers from across Puerto Rico. Among the recognized patriarchs are Celestino Avilés, Juan Cruz Avilés, Domingo Orta Pérez, and Carmelo Soto, all of whom have been carving saints for more than sixty years. The santeros of pre-industrial Puerto Rico were self-taught artists from the countryside who sold or traded their carvings to members of their community. Today's santeros include self-taught artists as well as those with formal artistic training. Traditionally a male-dominated activity, women are now gaining a higher profile as evident in the growing participation of women carvers in artisans' fairs and exhibitions.
Many of the themes found in the santos of pre-industrial Puerto Rico continue to be popular among contemporary carvers, who favor images of the Virgin (especially Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Our Lady of Montserrat), the Three Kings, the archangels Michael and Raphael, and representations of popular saints such as Anthony and Joseph. As in the past, iconographic conventions dictate a codified set of signs and symbols for dress, posture and the attributes (such as crowns, halos and scepters) given to each saint. For accuracy of representation, santeros still rely on locally printed illustrated prayers and popular devotional prints and holy cards exported from Europe, Mexico and the United States.
New Roles for Santos
The santero of old was steeped in the religious conviction that the saints were powerful intercessors with God and saw his work as a vocation, a calling, to serve a spiritual need in the community. This no longer describes the typical santero in Puerto Rico, although there are exceptions. No longer exclusively Catholic, many of today's carvers prefer to be known as talladores de santos, “carvers of saints,” as opposed to the traditional word, santero or “saint-maker.” While the santos of the past functioned as objects of devotion, today they are mostly regarded for their artistic merit, as collector's items with important investment value, and even as symbols of Puerto Rican identity because of their link to the past culture of Puerto Rico. Yet, Puerto Rican santos (both old and new) continue to function in a devotional context for some of their owners, santeros and collectors alike, and the carving of santos is a spiritual experience for many of today's carvers in Puerto Rico.
Since the early days of Christianity, saints have been honored as role models, heroes and guardians. The carvings of today's santeros remind us of the vital role played by these holy figures in the daily lives of believers. From objects of devotion to symbols of Puerto Rican art and culture, the contemporary santos of Puerto Rico belong to a rich tradition that continues to evolve in response to social, religious and political change.
