La Marinita
The animita of a three-year-old girl in Santiago's Parque O'Higgins, filled with dolls, toys and thank-you plaques since 1945.
In the shade of the trees in Parque O’Higgins, a roofed animita holds dolls, soft toys, children’s clothes and thank-you plaques. It belongs to Marina Silva Espinoza, “la Marinita”.
What happened
Marina was three years old when, in May 1945, her stepfather took her to what was then Parque Cousiño and took her life. Her body was found the next day in a quiet part of the park, and the animita was raised on that same spot.
From shock to devotion
According to Memoria Chilena, the shock caused by the crime quickly turned into popular devotion. There are thank-you plaques dating from 1950, and people still come today to pray for their children’s health or schooling, or to give thanks for a favour granted.
What you see today
- A roofed structure surrounded by trees.
- Dolls, toys and soft toys, the typical offerings at children’s animitas.
- Candles, flowers and plaques spanning more than seventy years.
Visiting
The park is next to Parque O’Higgins metro station (Line 2). It is a place of reflection: do not move or take any objects from the animita.