The colonization of Central America by the Spanish people, gave rise to cultural constructions located between the denial and repression of native customs before the social and religious aspects, imported from Europe.
In Central America, and more present in Guatemala, there is a character called “Brother Simon,” who worshipped as a saint. He is an example of religious hybridization through the appropriation of faith-based histories of communities with indigenous beliefs, embedded in a Ladino society, and the cohabitation of material and spiritual needs.
Each year on October 28th, hundreds of peregrines celebrate Brother Simon’s Birthday by going to the temple located in the village of San Andrés Itzapa, at approximately 50 km from Guatemala City, to thank him with gifts personally, and at the same time, to create altars for rituals and some kind of sacrifices in his honor to get purification and entrust to his vigil.
The negotiation of spiritual identity and the response to daily anxiety across the faith and devotion, are the main important reasons of the existence of a small church dedicated to Brother Simon, in Cuyultitán, El Salvador. Through prayers and cigar offerings, the parishioners make a plea to Brother Simon to do a “job” for them, consisting in different kind of requests as a way to exchange what they have and to get what they desire. Most of the petitions are related to improve their luck in love issues and material blessings.
