Macario Canizález : the ethnic duality of a popular saint

Abstract

This research is an approach to the study of particular popular beliefs from multiethnic the community of Izalco, in which we intend to show an approach to the cult of Brother Macario, where the essential aspects of the study are based on the vision from anthropology of belief, with is the contributions of the science and from the theorists who have contributed to the analysis of this issue. In western El Salvador, the multi-ethnic community from the municipality of Izalco, in the department of Sonsonate, has popular religious traditions and beliefs from centuries ago. During the twentieth century, arises the religion and beliefs around the Brother Macario, which has gradually strengthened, context in which their believers and practitioners live in an environment with a variety of faiths. This character, according to oral tradition is a being of light ̈ that different ethnic groups call and ask for help. At present, the gratitude for favors received is expressed through songs, rituals and other actions designed to the character that emerged from the same population of the municipality.