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Holy Infant of Atocha Santo Niño de Atocha | |
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![]() Traditional portrayal of Santo Niño de Atocha | |
Location | Atocha, Spain |
Date | 13th century |
Patronage | Spain, Mexico, travelers, protection from danger, those unjustly imprisoned |
Attributes | Brown cloak, blue robe, feathered hat, basket, staff, water gourde, vase with flowers at feet |
Holy Infant of Atocha, Santo Niño de Atocha, Holy Child of Atocha, Saint Child of Atocha, or Wise Child of Atocha is a Roman Catholic image of the Christ Child popular among the Hispanic cultures of Spain, Latin America and the southwestern United States. It is distinctly characterized by a basket he carries, along with a staff, drinking gourd (He used the gourd to carry water, and a basket of bread that he fed to prisoners who were thirsty and hungry) and a cape to which is affixed a scallop shell, symbol of a pilgrimage to Saint James.