The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

DEATH CUSTOM

WHEN AN OLDER WOMAN IS SERIOUSLY ILL THE MEXICAN PEOPLE
HAVE A DEFINITE CUSTOM. THE PERSON WHO IS SERIOUSLY
ILL ASKS SOMEONE (A WOMAN) TO BE HER "COM PADRAZCO"
OR GODMOTHER. THIS PERSON THEN HAS TO BUY THE ILL
PERSON A GOWN. THE GOWN IS WORN UNTIL THE PERSON
RECOVERS OR WITH HER IN HER DEATH.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED OF THE CUSTOM IN MEXICO IN A 1968
VISIT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 10-25-1971