Atrial cross

Originating during the Novohispanic era, these crosses reflect the fusion of pre-Columbian cultures and European Christianity.

They may be compared with high cross tradition of the British Isles, also begun in a newly-converted society.

Originally made from wood,[1] they were commonly erected in the atriums of new churches and convents, serving as focal points for the evangelization of Indigenous populations.

These crosses became symbols of the Catholic Church's presence and a visual reminder of the new faith being introduced.

[4] The inclusion of plants and flowers has been interpreted as a symbolic representation of the atrial cross as a tree of life.