RSSPuerto Rico is famous for its many crafts, particularly the Santos, which are carved religious figures. These have been produced since the 1500s by skilled artisans called santeros. The statues are carved from clay, gold, stone, or cedar wood and are usually 8 to 20 inches tall. Before Spanish colonization native tribal villages and camps featured small statues called cemis, which were objects of veneration. Similarly santos may derive their origin from pre-Columbian traditions as well as indigenous worship practices. Every home has a santos, used to represent the patron saint of the town, to protect the family and the worshipping of the santos replaces a traditional mass for many families.
Handmade tools are often used for carving santos, and they are colored by vegetable dyes. Symbols used on the statues are indicative of the saints they represent. The most common form of santos are the Three Kings, while the Trinity and the Nativity are also popular. Hundreds of santeros practice their craft through out the islands. Capilla del Cristo in Old San Juan is home to the best santos.
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