Bolivia’s skull festival

Nov 8, 2015

Bolivia’s skull festival

Quinn Kelley 0 Comment World Bolivia, Catholicism, La Paz, natitas, skull festival

Bolivians displayed human skulls, or “natitas,” outside the Cementerio General chapel during Sunday’s Natitas Festival in La Paz, Bolivia. Although some natitas have been handed down through generations, many are from unnamed, abandoned graves. The are cared for and decorated by the faithful, who use them as amulets believing they serve as protection. The tradition marks the end of the Catholic All Saints holiday, but is not recognized by the Catholic church. –AP

: Human skulls or “natitas” crowned with flowers and surrounded by offerings of coca leaves, flower petals and cigarettes, are displayed outside the Cementerio General chapel, during the Natitas Festival, in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Although some natitas have been handed down through generations, many are from unnamed, abandoned graves. The are cared for and decorated by faithful who use them as amulets believing they serve as protection. The tradition marks the end of the Catholic All Saints holiday, but is not recognized by the Catholic church. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

: A human skull or “natitas” wearing sun glasses and crowned with flowers is surrounded by offerings of coca leaves, flower petals and cigarettes, outside the Cementerio General chapel during the Natitas Festival, in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Although some natitas have been handed down through generations, many are from unnamed, abandoned graves that are cared for and decorated by faithful. They use them as amulets believing they serve as protection. The tradition marks the end of the Catholic All Saints holiday, but is not recognized by the Catholic church. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

: A woman carries decorated human skull or “natitas”, as she waits to be greeted by the priest inside the Cementerio General chapel, during the Natitas Festival celebrations, in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Although some natitas have been handed down through generations, many are from unnamed, abandoned graves that are cared for and decorated by faithful. They use them as amulets believing they serve as protection. The tradition marks the end of the Catholic All Saints holiday, but is not recognized by the Catholic church. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

: A woman carries decorated human skull or “natitas”, as she waits to be greeted by the priest inside the Cementerio General chapel, during the Natitas Festival celebrations, in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Although some natitas have been handed down through generations, many are from unnamed, abandoned graves that are cared for and decorated by faithful. They use them as amulets believing they serve as protection. The tradition marks the end of the Catholic All Saints holiday, but is not recognized by the Catholic church. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

: Human skulls or “natitas” crowned with flowers are surrounded by offerings of coca leaves, flower petals and cigarettes, outside the Cementerio General chapel during the Natitas Festival, in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Although some natitas have been handed down through generations, many are from unnamed, abandoned graves that are cared for and decorated by faithful who use them as amulets believing they serve as protection. The tradition marks the end of the Catholic All Saints holiday, but is not recognized by the Catholic church. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

: A man carries decorated human skulls or “natitas” outside the Cementerio General chapel, during the Natitas Festival celebrations, in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Although some natitas have been handed down through generations, many are from unnamed, abandoned graves that are cared for and decorated by faithful who use them as amulets believing they serve as protection. The tradition marks the end of the Catholic All Saints holiday, but is not recognized by the Catholic church. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

: A man holds decorated human skulls or “natitas” as he waits to be greeted by the priest inside the Cementerio General chapel, during the Natitas Festival celebrations, in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Although some natitas have been handed down through generations, many are from unnamed, abandoned graves that are cared for and decorated by faithful who use them as amulets believing they serve as protection. The tradition marks the end of the Catholic All Saints holiday, but is not recognized by the Catholic church. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

: A woman carries a decorated human skull or “natitas” outside the Cementerio General chapel, during the Natitas Festival celebrations, in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Although some natitas have been handed down through generations, many are from unnamed, abandoned graves that are cared for and decorated by faithful who use them as amulets believing they serve as protection. The tradition marks the end of the Catholic All Saints holiday, but is not recognized by the Catholic church. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

: A human skull or “natitas” surrounded by offerings of coca leaves, flower petals and cigarettes, is displayed outside the Cementerio General chapel, during the Natitas Festival, in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Although some natitas have been handed down through generations, many are from unnamed, abandoned graves that are cared for and decorated by faithful who use them as amulets believing they serve as protection. The tradition marks the end of the Catholic All Saints holiday, but is not recognized by the Catholic church. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

: A human skull or “natitas” with glasses is displayed outside the Cementerio General chapel, during the Natitas Festival, in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Although some natitas have been handed down through generations, many are from unnamed, abandoned graves that are cared for and decorated by faithful who use them as amulets believing they serve as protection. The tradition marks the end of the Catholic All Saints holiday, but is not recognized by the Catholic church. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

: A human skull or “natitas” crowned with flowers and wearing glasses is displayed outside the Cementerio General chapel, during the Natitas Festival, in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Although some natitas have been handed down through generations, many are from unnamed, abandoned graves that are cared for and decorated by faithful who use them as amulets believing they serve as protection. The tradition marks the end of the Catholic All Saints holiday, but is not recognized by the Catholic church. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

: A human skull or “natitas” with sun glasses and crowned with flowers is displayed outside the Cementerio General chapel, during the Natitas Festival, in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Although some natitas have been handed down through generations, many are from unnamed, abandoned graves that are cared for and decorated by faithful who use them as amulets believing they serve as protection. The tradition marks the end of the Catholic All Saints holiday, but is not recognized by the Catholic church. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

: A woman holds decorated a human skull or “natitas” as she waits to be greeted by the priest inside the Cementerio General chapel, during the Natitas Festival celebrations, in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Although some natitas have been handed down through generations, many are from unnamed, abandoned graves that are cared for and decorated by faithful who use them as amulets believing they serve as protection. The tradition marks the end of the Catholic All Saints holiday, but is not recognized by the Catholic church. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

: A woman looks at her decorated human skull or “natitas” as she waits to be greeted by the priest inside the Cementerio General chapel, during the Natitas Festival celebrations, in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Although some natitas have been handed down through generations, many are from unnamed, abandoned graves that are cared for and decorated by faithful who use them as amulets believing they serve as protection. The tradition marks the end of the Catholic All Saints holiday, but is not recognized by the Catholic church. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

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