Bolivian Holiday: Day of the Skulls

Day of the Skulls, La Paz, Bolivia

The Day of the Skulls is a religious celebration shared by most indigenous people in Bolivia that represents a mix of ancient ritual with Catholic religion.

One of the day's most revered symbols are the "natitas" - (or "flat noses") in the local Aymara indigenous language. These are in fact actual human skulls which are coveted by thousands of Catholic indigenous Bolivians. These indigenous peoples believe the skulls will protect them from evil, help them achieve goals and even work miracles.

The skulls are sometimes exhumed and sometimes passed from hand to hand. They spend most of their time indoors but are paraded in the city's main public cemetery annually.

"The rite is now a blend of Catholic and indigenous beliefs, but has its roots in ancient rituals for the death practised by the country's Indian groups such as the pre-Inca Aymara and Quechua," says Dr Josef Estermann, an Andean theology expert.

Unfortunately, the Catholic Church does not agree with the mix of religion unanimously.

Earlier this month the Church called on the faithful to stop using human skulls at special mass celebrations. The Archbishop of La Paz, Edmundo Abastoflor, urged followers of the Andean rite to "let them rest in peace".

However, some priests believe they have no other choice than to let people pray Catholic prayers to their skulls, and even allow them to go to church with them.

"I receive them and not as enemies of the Catholic faith," the cemetery's Roman Catholic priest, Father Jaime Fernandez, told the BBC after giving an informal blessing to thousands of skull-carrying devotees at the cemetery's chapel.

The mix of indigenous practice and Catholic religion is very common amongst Latin American societies. The collision of the two further represents the unique and diverse culture that is Latin American.