La Candelaria

Traditional Mexican santo, possibly 18th century
Stiffened and painted cloth over a frame construction; hands and heads of wood, gesso, paint
3½ feet tall (106.7 cm.).
Church of Santa Ana del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico

This santo was identified by a parishioner as La Candelaria, the santo associated with the feast of Candelmas (February 2). Candlemas celebrates Mary's "purification" and the presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:22-28) Supporting this identification are the crown, the child posed on the left arm, and the positioning of the right hand as if to hold a candle. However, the child does not have a crown, as is usual in Candelaria santos.

It is common in Oaxaca to add rosaries to any Marian santo regardless of its specific identification or use.

At the foot of the santo is a photograph of a Soledad santo.

See this page for another Candelaria and a discussion of the santo's name and function.
Read more about images of La Candelaria.

Photographed at the church by Claire and Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.