What is la santa muerte?

La Santa Muerte, also known as Saint Death or Holy Death, is a folk saint and a deity in Mexican and Mexican-American folk Catholicism. She is often depicted as a skeletal figure, similar to the Grim Reaper, and is associated with protection, healing, and safe passage to the afterlife. Despite not being recognized by the Catholic Church, she has a significant following in Mexico and the United States, particularly among marginalized communities.