Easter procession "Death Carts of the Dead" of Southern Colorado and New Mexico

Made in Southern Colorado and New Mexico during the last part of the nineteenth century and the first part of the twentieth. The “Death Cart of the Dead” (carreta de la Muerte) is a small cart (carreta) built in the style of historical oxcart of the region. In the cart is the symbolic figure of death. Usually in the form of a skeleton. The cart was used in the Good Friday re-enactment of the Passion of Christ and was meant to remind sinners to be prepared, because death was ever-present.

José Inez Herrera, Death Cart, 1890-1910. Denver Art MuseumPhoto byColorado Martini

It is theorized this Coloradoan and New Mexican tradition originated from death floats (pasos) pulled or carried during Good Friday processions in Spain and Mexico. Spanish settlers introduced their Middle Ages death statues to the Southwest in the late 1500s. They continued to be used in Southern Colorado and New Mexico during Easter and Holy Week processions until the early 1900’s. Holy Week is when Christians around the world follow the steps of the final days of Jesus Christ in the week leading up to Easter

The oldest cart (carreta) known is from New Mexico from around 1860 by Nazario Lopez of Cordova. According to a journal written in the 1970’s, this cart was formerly in the baptistry of the las Trampas Church in New Mexico. I was not able to verify if the historic cart was still there.

If you know the whereabouts of this historic carte, let us know in the comments.

In New Mexico and Colorado, the figures are usually dressed as a woman carrying a bow and arrow, known as Doña Sebastiana. Thought to be in reference to Saint Sebastian, who was martyred by arrows.

Miguel de Baca, "Death Cart (La Muerte en su Carreta)," Object Narrative, in Conversations (2014)Photo byAn Online Journal of the Center for the Study of Material and Visual Cultures of Religion

Denver Art Museum’s Cart

In the Denver Art Museum is a historical cart is from El Rito, New México. The carver was José Inés Herrera. Herrera was known as the Santero de la Muerte (Saint-maker of Death) because he specialized in carving death carts and death figures.

The cart in the Denver Art Museum is impressively large. It stands at four feet and is a centerpiece to the room. I recommend that you see the historic piece for yourselves.

Death cart at Denver Art Museum. José Inez Herrera, Death Cart, 1890-1910. Wood, leather, hair, feather, metal, silk; 48 × 21½ in.Photo byColorado Martini

Conclusion

I searched for present day “Death Cart of the Dead” (carreta de la Muerte) processions. But could only find Holy Week processions. It would be quite the site to see one of these processions in person. More about the "Death Cart of the Dead" in video below.

If you know of any present day Holy Week “Death Cart of the Dead” (carreta de la Muerte) processions, let us know in the comments.

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References

• Denver Art Museum Cart
• History Colorado
• JSTOR