Religiosity

Although Mexico is officially a secular nation with separation of church and state, around 78% of the Mexican people are Catholic.  Many people are nominal Catholics who do not attend church services regularly, and, in some areas with large indigenous populations, Catholicism is still mixed with pre-Hispanic beliefs.  Nevertheless, Mexico has the second highest Catholic population in the world after Brazil.  

You can see that religiosity as you walk the streets of Mexico City.   You will often come across miniature chapels that have been placed along the sidewalk.  They contain figures of saints, most often the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's beloved patron saint.

This glass box attached to the wall of a house contains an image of San Judás Tadeo (St. Jude, the patron of lost causes) who is highly venerated in Mexico.  He is easily recognized because he is portrayed with a flame above his head.

Another house had large images of the Virgin of Guadalupe and San Judás Tadeo on a second story ledge.