Road Scholar: Santa Muerte and the Day of the Dead

Join us on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in the Lower Level Media Room at 1 p.m. for a free one-hour lecture and Q&A to learn about Santa Muerte and the Day of the Dead.

Santa Muerte has been called the “fastest-growing religion in the Americas.” Join religion scholar Brian Carwana for an introduction to this devotion centered on Saint Death—or the “Bony Lady”—a female figure often likened to the Grim Reaper. Her devotees in Mexico and elsewhere have grown rapidly in recent decades, much to the dismay of Catholic and Pentecostal churches. This lecture also explores the Day of the Dead, a tradition that is unrelated to Santa Muerte but also features skeletons in an unusual event that mixes mourning with festivity. Together, these practices offer insight into how death is understood, commemorated, and given meaning in Mexico and other Latin American cultures.

Brian Carwana

Brian Carwana left a business career to follow his passion for world religious and spiritual traditions. He acquired a practical education by listening to religious leaders, visiting houses of worship, and observing services. He also earned a Ph.D. in religion from the University of Toronto. He is now the executive director of Encounter World Religions Centre, an educational organization promoting religious literacy and informed understanding of cultural diversity.