Kitsch vs. Religion

In Herzegovina there is the little town of Medugorje where supposedly the Virging Mary appeared to some children decades ago. Ever since it has been a place of pilgrimage for Catholics and tourist pour down to visit it. As the number of tourists grew so did other non-religious services to the point of where it is not clear anymore whether people come to pray there or shop for souvenirs. You can buy everything from little angles that glow in the dark to fashion bands with religious symbols. If all that is not enough, you can choose a statuette of a smaller “garden gnome” size or a life-size Mary. Although the number of visitors is on a steady rise, good taste has unfortunately abandoned Medugorje long ago…