Ladinos - Religion and Expressive Culture

Religious Beliefs. Ladinos are people whose syncretic processes have been deeply internalized. They come from Indian communities in which the customs of their grandparents persists; because the mainstream society holds these traditions in contempt, Ladinos reject them, yet, simultaneously, they are ashamed of the extent to which the costumbre still influences them. All of them are members of some Christian church—formerly it was only the Catholic church, but increasingly Ladinos have joined various Protestant churches or fundamentalist sects.

Medicine. Although Ladinos pride themselves on using only conventional allopathic medicine, in cases they consider to be serious, almost all will go to an herbalist, bonesetter, shaman, midwife, or curer in their community of origin or of some indigenous group in the city.