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Thanksgiving plaques on a shrine at the Difunta Correa Sanctuary, Vallecito, San Juan, Argentina. La Difunta Correa is the most popular of Argentina's folk saints. She was a woman whose husband was forcibly recruited around the year 1840, during the Argentine civil wars. Becoming sick, he was then abandoned by partisans. In an attempt to reach her sick husband, Deolinda took her baby and followed the tracks of the partisans through the desert of San Juan Province. When her supplies ran out, she died. Her body was found days later by gauchos, however they found the baby still alive, feeding from the deceased woman's miraculously ever-full breast. Once the folk tale became known, her devout followers believe her to perform miracles and intercede for the living. Cattle keepers and truck drivers create small altars throughout Argentina and leave bottles of water as votive offerings.
Image ID: | 1116-11272 |
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Artist: | Peter Langer |