I picked these up at a religious goods shop in Saltillo.
The salt, oil and incense with the St. Benedict holy card are “bendita,” I was assured by the clerk. (Blessed by a priest).
I was particularly interested in the saint in the center - San Charbel Maklouf - for I had seen his image in several homes during the week. Why is a Lebanese saint so popular in Mexico?
(For, I was told, he is – along with St. Jude, one of the most popular saints in Mexico.)
The person I was talking to didn’t really know, but I assume at least part of the reason has to do with the fact that Lebanese are an important minority in Mexico, with deep roots going back more than a century. The world’s richest man (trading the spot with Gates now and then), Carlos Slim, is Lebanese -Mexican Maronite. Salma Hayak is part Lebanese-Mexican.
Most of all, of course, he’s popular because of the power of his intercession. I didn’t see it, but it’s common in Mexico to drape statues of San Charbel with ribbons on which you’ve written prayers. You can see images from the Flickr pool here, here and here.
In the northern city where I live, Mexican taquerias sometimes have a dish called “tacos al pastor” which I’ve never seen in other American cities. It involves spiced meat shaved off a hot, turning spit as it cooks. If it looks like Lebanese shawirma, that’s because it’s apparently descended from a dish made by Lebanese immigrants to Mexico. Ummmm.
The best version is served as a platter, on tortillas, with bacon, onions, peppers, and cheese, run under the broiler.
benita=bendita. You’re missing a “d” there.