I am basically going to reblog this morbid legend, because the source sites all the bizarre details quite well.
For the past 75 years, a tiny bridal shop in Mexico has been the subject of some pretty crazy rumors. Tales of supernatural fiddling abound, with whispers of disembodied voices, mysterious cold spots, and even the occasional darting shadow seen from the corner of a visitor’s eye. But the creepiest rumor centers around a bridal mannequin sitting in the window; a highly detailed dummy that many say is a perfectly preserved corpse.
The tale begins on March 25th in 1930, when the odd-looking mannequin was first placed in the windows of La Popular, one of the most well-known bridal shops in Chihauhau, Mexico. Almost immediately, the locals knew that something just wasn’t quite right with the figure. Before long, tales of the stunning mannequin began to spread far and wide, and visitors trekked from all over just to see the intricate details in the doll. From the individual wrinkles in the hands, to the real human hair, to the mesermizing gaze of her glass eyes, it was almost as if the figure was a real person frozen in time.
Eventually, people began to notice the similaries between the mannequin, nicknamed La Pascualita, and the daughter of La Popular’s proprietor, Pascuala Esparza. According to legend, Esparza’s daughter had tragically passed away on her wedding day, victim of a Black Widow spider bite. Locals whispered that the beautiful figure in the window was, in fact, the embalmed body of Esparza’s daughter. More and more, the details began to make sense, and the townspeople became outraged. Of course, Pascuala Esparza formally denied the allegations, but by that point, it was too late – the legend was set in stone.
75 years later, some have come to revere La Pascualita as a saint, leaving candles and offering prayers in front of the window. Some ask for good fortune, but most come to her seeking guidance in matters of love. Many brides even let Pascualita decide on their gowns for them, simply choosing whatever dress she’s wearing at the time they visit.
So, is the strange mannequin really the preserved corpse of an ill-fated bride? Skeptics say no, pointing to the difficult upkeep when it comes to stopping a corpse from decaying, but those who have seen La Pascualita in person walk away believers… and very creeped out believers at that. After all, how strange is it for a store to keep the same mannequin for nearly eight decades, and shroud its undressing in secrecy?
What do you all think? The hands are indeed rather corpse-like, and graced with far more textured skin than any mannequin I’ve seen in the world. But…I’m not sure what methods could keep ANY flesh on a corpse over 80 years after the date of death.
SheWalksSoftly 
12 responses to “La Popular’s “Corpse Bride””
WOW!!! I love old mannequins & even have one from the 60’s that looks a lot like my late Aunt Barbara. She’s in my bedroom & I say good morning to her every day. What a treasure to have this lovely lady with the story attached!
Spooky! Those hands really are… suspiciously detailed
those hands sell the story for me! 🙂
It sure is fun to think this could be the case, but if the body is embalmed, mummified, or treated in any way to stay preserved, the head and hands would have to be wax.
I’m sold on an expensive lifelike replica of the deceased daughter. The surrounding tale is wonderful romantic hogwash.
I was thinking wax would be very necessary for a corpse, but it’s most likely a detailed replica meant as a tribute to the poor deceased bride.
That seems the reasonable deduction.
Maybe a saint like Bernadette Soubirous
my mum used to take me with her as a young girl, to visit her corpse. By the time, i thought the woman was just sleeping
But now i realize it was really creepy!
I dont beleive in god but i have to admit that is a mystery
Ooh, Spooky! I was just going to say definitely a mannequin, in fact it looks very similar to the wax figures that the Pierre Imans firm was producing in the 20s and 30s…
…then I checked out Bernadette Soubirous, and apparently in 1925 that very same company made wax coverings for her face and hands (to mask discolouration). So I guess it’s just possible that Esparza’s dead daughter really IS lurking somewhere under the wax. (Though if she went to the trouble of getting moulds made, then why not bury her daughter and just display a complete wax replica instead?) Either way: Yick!!! -Nx
Google Rosalia Lombardo of the Capuchin catacombs … Whoever embalmed her did a magnificent job! Dana, it’s insane you blogged about this, I just read this story the other day! What a coincidence! Anyway.. That bride has some crazy details.. She’s definitely an amazing cast… But really, I wouldn’t in the slightest be surprised if she was a corpse. Those hands look all corpsy to me. That’s for sure !
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