Curated playlist

Folk saints

Catherine of AragonWidowed at sixteen, Catherine of Aragon became the first known female ambassador in European history.
Che GuevaraChe Guevara signed Cuba's paper money with just one word: "Che." He was then president of the National Bank.
Santa ClausSanta Claus grew from a bishop who secretly gave gold to three poor sisters.
Diana, Princess of WalesAn estimated 2.5 billion people watched the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. The broadcast reached more than 200 countries. In the United Kingdom the audience peaked at 32.1 million, one of the highest figures ever recorded there. In…
Cesar ChavezCesar Chavez was born Cesario Estrada Chavez on the 31st of March 1927 and died on the 23rd of April 1993. Many Mexican Americans came to speak of him as a "folk saint." California farm owners saw something else entirely, a communist…
Santa MuerteSanta Muerte, whose name means Saint Death, is a skeleton in a long robe who is asked for healing, protection and a safe journey to the afterlife. Her devotees are estimated at 12 million. They are concentrated in Mexico, Central America…
Eva PerónEva Perón rode through Buenos Aires beside her husband on the 4th of June 1952, in a parade celebrating his re-election as president. She was so ill that she could not stand without support. Hidden beneath her oversized fur coat was a…
Ivan the TerribleThe "terrible" in Ivan the Terrible was meant as a boast, not an insult. It meant formidable.
Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar's funeral in Medellín drew more than 25,000 people. Many came from the city's poor neighborhoods, and some of them still pray to him as a saint. A priest known as Father Elkin described Escobar as a profoundly devout man who…
Beslan school siegeThe Beslan school siege began on a day when children carry flowers to school. More than 1,100 people were taken hostage.
Pavel FlorenskyA paper on relativity helped send priest Pavel Florensky to a Soviet labor camp.