[134] As Santería formed, separate West African orisha cults were reconstituted into a single religious system,[392] one which had a newly standardized pantheon of oricha. [179] They refer to their santero/santera as padrino (godfather) or madrina (godmother). 508 0 obj <>stream There are around 400 orishas, but only 20 are regularly worshiped in Cuba. [345], Clients approach these diviners for a divinatory consulta (consultation),[346] usually to ask for advice about their health, family problems, or legal issues,[347] and in doing so will pay the diviner a fee, the derecho. [39] Practitioners of both Santería and other Afro-Cuban religions are called creyentes ("believers"). [181] The precise form of the moforibale differs depending on whether the individual's personal oricha is male or female. Obatalá is the creator of the Earth, owner of intelligence, thoughts, human dreams . [383] The great plurality were Yoruba, from the area encompassed by modern Nigeria and Benin;[384] the Yoruba had a shared language and culture but were divided among different states. Prevalent in the African Caribbean cultures, espiritismo is a part of the Latin American traditional healing practice. Obí divination's primary use is to answer simply questions with "yes" or "no" answers. [163] Although some practitioners are uncomfortable using it,[164] most initiates know tens or hundreds of Lucumí words and phrases. [267] It includes drumming and a feast. Cuba is still the religious center of Santería, but the faith has spread to many other countries as well, including the U.S. Santería’s roots can be traced to the Lucumí religion, which was practiced by the Yoruba tribes of modern-day Benin and Nigeria. [118] Especially propitiated are those egun regarded as ancestors;[54] these ancestors can include both hereditary forebears or past members of one's congregation,[119] with practitioners believing that a creyente becomes an ancestor when they die. [256] During the lavatorio ("washing"),[257] the initiate's head is bathed in omiero,[258] designed to rid them of any malevolent spirits attached to them. When the International Afro-Caribbean Festival in Veracruz was launched in 1994, it showcased art and ritual by Mexican santeros/santeras, although this brought public protests from Roman Catholic organisations, who regarded such rites as Satanic, and animal welfare groups, who deemed the sacrifices to be inhumane. [91] For instance, the Holy Infant of Atocha, a depiction of Christ as a child, is conflated with Eleguá, who is seen as having a childlike nature. [214] If this fails to materialise, practitioners may resort to several explanations: that the details of the ritual were incorrect, that the priest or priestess carrying out the rite lacked sufficient aché, or that the wrong ébbo was provided for the situation. Systematically exploring every facet of Santeria's worldview, Sandoval examines how practitioners have adapted received beliefs and practices to reconcile them with new environments, from plantation slavery to exile in the United States. Providing new insight into debates over race and representation in the media, this ethnographic study explores the ways in which African Americans are depicted in television situation comedies and the meanings that African American ... [113] Santería teaches that a person can learn to both see and communicate with the dead. The Santeria Experience-Migene González-Wippler 1992 First published in 1982, this book received critical [120], Adherents believe that everyone has a cuadro espiritual ("spiritual portrait" or "spiritual picture") of egun who protect them. [362] A year of additional rites for the dead individual follow, a period ended with the levantamiento de platos, the breaking of a dish, to symbolise the deceased's final departure from the realm of the living. [340], Divination is a central aspect of Santería,[341] taking place before all major rites and being utilized by adherents at critical moments of their life. Fidel Castro is even rumored to be a believer. [174] In Cuba, it is common for Santería practitioners to meet with each other regularly,[175] and to regard each other as being akin to a family:[176] the familia de santo. [203] Bóveda often feature photographs of deceased relatives, to whom offerings are given;[204] popular offerings for the spirits of the dead include seven glasses of water,[118] a cafecito coffee,[205] and the aguardiente liquor. [100] This oricha is deemed to influence the individual's personality, and can be recognised through examining the person's personality traits,[101] or through divination. ENTRY INTO CUBA. [194] Creating these altars is deemed expensive and time-consuming. [212] Given to strengthen the supernatural forces, to thank them, or as a supplication,[213] they help form a reciprocal relationship with these entities in the hope of receiving something in return. Santería developed among Afro-Cuban communities following the Atlantic slave trade of the 16th to 19th centuries. [132], To heal a patient, the santero/santera may also prescribe omiero,[329] give them a cleansing bath,[331] or provide them with a collares necklace. Santeria Religion. The religion came together on the island of Cuba where it interacted with other African religious practices of the Arará people, the Bantú speaking people, and with Spanish Catholicism. [118] Practitioners also believe that the number and identities of these spirits can be determined through divination. [410] These were often encouraged by the press, who promoted allegations that white children were being abducted and murdered in Santería rituals;[411] this reached a fever pitch in 1904 after two white children were murdered in Havana in cases that investigators speculated were linked to brujería. The oricha must then be propitiated to stop, sometimes with the sick individual receiving initiation. [165] Lucumí derives from the Yoruba language, although it has become "increasingly fragmented and unintelligible" since the 19th century. P�0p%=��cN0 ��Tp [50], Santeria is polytheistic,[51] featuring 16 prominent deities in its pantheon. Dr Mary Ann Clark sits in front of a Santeria shrine. He is usually invoked to avoid problems in life, even with the other Orishas, because his deity emanates peace, calm and patience, his energy solves conflicts. Feel free to ask people about the religion and, if given permission, take photographs. [122] Santería also divides the spirits into categories that each exhibit different traits, reflecting stereotypes about different social groups,[113] with such spirits often portrayed as African, Haitian, Gypsy, Arab, or Plains Indian. [352], Obi, also known as biagué, involves the casting of four pieces of a dried coconut shell, with the manner in which they fall being used to answer a question. Like other Afro-Caribbean cults practiced in Miami, such as Haitian Voodoo, Obeah and Brazilian Candomble, it blends African religion with some aspects of Christianity. [244] Next comes the ceremonia del río ("ceremony of the initiate"), in which offerings are given to Ochún,[245] and the rompimiento ("breaking"), in which the oyubona takes the initiate to purify themselves in a river. Santeria is a result of a religious syncretism that was developed under Spanish colonial rule. It’s unlike anything you’ve probably ever seen. If you watch a ceremony or take photographs, it’s customary to offer a tip afterwards. [437] With an increased Cuban presence in the U.S., Santería grew in many U.S. cities, being embraced by Latino Americans as well as European Americans and African Americans. This is a special book for those of us who go forth from the heart, without malice. Ócha’ni Lele, my dear, I congratulate you!” --Ivy Queen, vocalist, musician, and Queen of Reggaeton “This book is a page turner. Ócha’ni Lele ... [69] Often, their hair will be shaved off. Santería or La Regla Ocha (Reign of the Orishas or deities) is the primeval and powerful Afro-Cuban religion now practiced worldwide. Santeria Religion. [270] This may for instance include abstaining from sexual intercourse, wearing only white, or not cutting their hair. In fact, when Santeros find themselves in a difficult position, they sometimes say that they are going to have to go to Guanabacoa to find a babalawo to help solve their problems. [157] An ethos of secrecy pervades many of its practices,[158] with initiates often refusing to discuss certain topics with non-initiates. [421] In 1991, the Communist Party approved the admission of religious members, and in 1992 the constitution was amended to declare Cuba a secular rather than an atheist state. Its sacred language is the Lucumí language, a remnant of Yoruba language that is used in . [155] Based on his ethnographic work in New York City during the 1980s, Samuel Gregory noted that there Santería was not a "religion of the poor", but contained a disproportionately high percentage of middle-class people such as teachers, social workers, and artists. Initiated into the Santeria priesthood at the age of seven, Raul Canizares unveils in Cuban Santeria the secret and seductive world of this rapidly growing, yet largely misunderstood, Afro-Cuban religion. [284] There are multiple types of batá: the iyá is the largest, the itótele is smaller, and the okónkolo is the smallest. [254] Each necklace is a different color associated with a specific deity. The religion is also known as La Regla de Lucumi or Lucumi or 'Lukumi's Rule'. [310] As well as speaking in the Lucumí language,[311] those possessed may then display gestures associated with a particular oricha;[312] for instance, those believing themselves possessed by Ochún may wipe their skirt over other people, representing the waves of the ocean, while those regarding themselves as being possessed by Eleguá may steal from assembled participants. For centuries, Santería – which is also known as the Regla de Ocha – was practiced in secret, and survived orally from one generation to another. [424] The state nevertheless promoted art forms associated with Santería in the hope of using them to promote a unified Cuban identity. [171] This casa ("house") is usually the personal home of a santero or santera. [314], Healing is important in Santería,[315] and health problems are the most common reason why people approach a santero or santera for help. Now Santeria religion among the people and botanicas (specialty Santeria shops) of Miami, New York, San Fransisco and many places where Cuban immigrants have moved since Castro's regime has been in power. Practitioners venerate the oricha at altars, either in the home or in the casa (temple), which is run by a santero (priest) or santera (priestess). Visits to the cathedral at El Cobre, which is about 15 miles (23 km) from Santiago, will also be instructive. Santería is a Spanish word that means the "worship of saints". Portal de Archivos Españoles. [348] Attending a divination ritual in this way is commonly the first time that an individual encounters Santería so directly. [471] Various practitioners have also found that their involvement in Santería has strained their relationship with spouses or other family members who are not involved,[106] and in some cases adherents have abandoned Santería to join other religious movements such as Pentecostalism. So this book talks about one line, one path among the many, and its focus is mainly on the structures and rhythms of Santeria's history and on problems of collective memory and syncretism. Lucumí is the name by which the Yoruba were known in Cuba. [78] The third, Ochosi, is associated with woods and hunting,[79] while the fourth, Osun, is a protector who warns practitioners when they are in danger. [74] He is depicted as being black on one side and red on the other,[75] and practitioners will frequently place a cement head decorated with cowrie shells that represents Eleguá behind their front door, guarding the threshold to the street. [151], Funeral rites, called itulu, are designed to appease the soul of the deceased. [134] The religion presents strict rules regarding how to interact with other people and with the supernatural,[135] for instance placing emphasis on respect for elders and superiors. If you visit the El Cobre Cathedral, you’ll see followers sporting yellow clothes and wearing yellow and white beads in homage to Ochún. Santeria is, in fact, not one set of beliefs, but a "syncretic" religion, which means it blends aspects of a variety of different faiths and cultures, despite the fact that some of these beliefs might be contradictory to one another. RELIGION IN CUBA. [118] Although the dead are not deemed as powerful as the oricha, they are still thought capable of assisting the living,[118] with whom they can communicate through dreams, intuition, and spirit possession. [449] Some practitioners grow up in Santería as the children of initiates, although others only approach the religion as adults. [120], While deeming Olodumare the ultimate embodiment of aché,[128] creyentes believe that aché permeates all life,[57] and is present in both the visible and invisible world. Santería rituals were first practiced by Yoruba slaves and their descendents in the island of Cuba, where each Yoruba . Although it's practiced today by people all over the world, Regla de Ocha is generally defined as an Afro-Cuban religion that originated in what is today Nigeria and Benin in West Africa. This faith incorporates some elements of Roman Catholicism and was created by Afro-Latina slaves. The spelling "orisha" is widely favored for the deities venerated in West Africa; it is sometimes also used for all traditions venerating these deities globally. Page35 PHOTO CAPTION - One of Cuba's strongest African customs is that of visiting the famed ceiba tree at the Template on Saint Christopher's day. If an individual has consistently bad luck, they must appease their orisha to achieve harmony and balance in their life. [464] Various songs have referenced Santería and its oricha; the Cuban American singer Celia Cruz for example recorded a version of "Que viva Chango" ("Long Live Chango"),[465] while a Cuban band called themselves Los Orichas. Practitioners attend Catholic mass and might even baptize their children, while also practicing forms of Lucumí in their home. [92] Babalú Ayé, who is associated with disease, is often identified with the Catholic Saint Lazarus, who rose from the dead,[63] while Changó is conflated with Santa Barbara because they both wear red. The religion is also known as La Regla Lucumi and the. • an Afro-Caribbean religion based on Yoruba beliefs and traditions, with some Roman Catholic elements added (BBC. This African Custom is complied with by Havana residents on the appointed date of every year. [399] Although it drew on older West African cults, Santeria was, as described by Clark, "a new religious system". Santería is popular throughout all of Cuba, but the cities of Santiago, Matanzas, and Havana have the largest number of followers. The offering - in other rituals it might have been a rooster or a duck - is a common practice in Cuba, where Santería, a monotheistic religion founded on the small Caribbean island more than 90 miles off Florida's coast, exists as a mainstream option for Cubans who have had the freedom to practice since 1997. Santeria is an Afro-Carribian religion that expanded during the time of the Cuban slave trade (Types of Religion, 2016). A virile hero and warrior, one of the most venerated of the tutelary orishas of Cuban Santeria; a womanizer and a drinker, quarrelsome, courageous and dareing the orisha of music master of the sacred bata drums god of thunder and lighting. [371] The spirit is believed to enter and inhabit the doll,[372] with some practitioners stating that they can see the inhabiting spirit. This book will take you by the hand, to enter the world of Cuban Santeria, its deities and fetishes, the way of making religion in Cuba, the main elements that must be known, how and why this ancestral Afro-Cuban religion is reached , as ... "[30][a] Due to their shared origins in Yoruba traditional religion, Santería has been characterized as a "sister religion" of Haitian Vodou and Brazilian Candomblé,[31] and there are also cases, such as that of the New York-based Mama Lola, in which individuals have been initiated into both Vodou and Santería. [185] Central to these altars are sacred objects, termed fundamentos ("fundamentals"),[186] which are contained within porcelain vessels, often tureens, called sopera. 463 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[422 87]/Info 421 0 R/Length 174/Prev 681941/Root 423 0 R/Size 509/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream [34] There is no strict orthodoxy,[35] no key sacred text,[36] and no central authority in control of the entire religion. [273] Thenceforth, they will celebrate the annual anniversary of their initiation, their cumpleaños de santo ("birthday in the saint"). Santería, "The Way of the Saints," developed among African slaves in Cuba, and has spread throughout the Caribbean and the United States. Santeria. Santería is a religion with Afro-Cuban roots, born of the cultural clash between the Yoruba people of West Africa and the Spanish Catholics who brought them to the Americas as slaves. The slaves were banned from practicing their own religion, so they disguised their gods as Catholic figures and continued to pray to them as they pleased. the 10 percent (probably less) are exlusivly catholic. [313] The possessed individual will then provide healing or dispense advice;[308] sometimes a possessed person will reprimand others present, for instance for failing to carry out their ritual obligations, or issue them a warning. because the official religion of haiti is catholiscm. [72] Eleguá is viewed as the guardian of the crossroads and thresholds;[73] he is the messenger between humanity and the oricha, and most ceremonies start by requesting his permission to continue. [161] Sometimes referred to as la lengua de los orichas ("the language of the oricha"),[162] it is regarded as a divine language through which practitioners can contact the deities.

Minnesota Road Construction Map 2021, College Basketball Rankings, Copenhagen Business School Ranking, Alyssa Milano Husband Age, Senior Accountant Salary Maryland, Ramsey County Public Health Covid, Brown University Football Recruiting, Is Latin An Extinct Language, Who Has The Most Vogue Covers Of All Time,