In my study, I examine the influence of Native American spiritual practices on Catholic rituals in colonial New Spain, analyzing how these practices shaped Mexican folk Catholicism through processes of religious syncretism. Following the Spanish conquest, indigenous spiritual beliefs—such as animism, ancestor veneration, and ritual festivals—intersected with Catholicism, creating a rich fusion of religious expressions. By focusing on specific instances of syncretism, including the reimagining of indigenous deities as Catholic saints, the alignment of indigenous festivals with Catholic holy days, and the incorporation of sacred natural elements into Catholic rituals, I explore the adaptive strategies indigenous communities employed to preserve their cultural identity within imposed religious frameworks. 

My analysis includes emblematic figures and practices that embody this blending of spiritual traditions, such as the Virgin of Guadalupe, whose veneration integrates aspects of the Aztec goddess Tonantzin, and the celebration of Día de los Muertos, which synthesizes indigenous ancestral veneration with Catholic observances of All Saints' and All Souls' Days. These case studies highlight the resilience and agency of Native American communities under colonial rule, who, rather than abandoning their spiritual customs, transformed them within a Catholic context.

This project contributes to a deeper understanding of how colonized communities navigate and retain cultural identity through religious adaptation. By illuminating the dynamics of Mexican folk Catholicism as a distinctive cultural identity rooted in syncretic practices, offering insights into the broader themes of cultural resilience and adaptation in the face of colonial domination.