Santera followers believe that one God created the universe and that the world is cared for by lesser divine beings known as orishas. It must be done by his religious elder, if at all possible his godfather or godmother and other members of his ile, or religious "home." advice. While here, youll see people wearing yellow clothes and buying sunflowers in honor of Ochn. The slaves meshed their religion with Catholicism much the same way slaves in Haiti did with Voodoo. She knew he had Orichas and she didn't know what to do with them, so she wrote to me, after finding my website on the internet. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, and they are generally based on a person's religion or personal preference. That may be in part due to an auspicious event that happened during his victory speech on January 8, 1959. generalized educational content about wills. Santera is a monotheistic religion with a godnamed Olodumare, "owner of all destinies," writes Joseph Murphy in his book "Santera An African Religion in America. This cathedral is very special to Catholics too, and thus offers travelers a fascinating look at the intersection between Catholicism and Santera. A large number of slaves were imported to Cuba via Matanzas during the 19th century, and Santera gained a strong following here. And because Santera lacks scriptures, the whole faith is passed down orally. However, if a person is entering Santera for the need of healing, they will undergo the rogacin de la cabeza blessing of the head in which coconut water and cotton are applied on the head to feed it. Derived from African religions brought by Yoruban slaves to the New World, whats now called Santera simply means the way of the saints in Spanish. Santiago has a high concentration of Afro-Cubans, and not surprisingly, a large number of Santeros. Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah, 1993. What Are Purple Orbs (and What Can Their Meaning Tell You)? In this way, our ancestors never really die; their energy is recycled. Santera is a multi-layered religion steeped in ancient traditions and blended with other religions. Followers are required to stay inside at night for an entire year and only dress in white. Book with Anywhere! Thanks to your blog, I know I should set money aside for any coast that might need to be covered as well. They really made our trip comfortable and were 100% available and collabor As usual, Anywhere provided a great and professional service both before and during our trip. Santera is a multi-layered religion steeped in ancient traditions and blended with other religions. 508 0 obj <>stream 26 July 2011. www.academia.edu/3077440/Funerals_in_Socialist_Cuba. Those who practice Santera move through life alongside spirits and participate in a vast cache of rituals steeped in both the supernatural and physical world. FGCUs Frim says, Whether or not we consider it to be humane, I think it's a legitimate question, as we live in a secular society. P0p%=cN0 Tp Because of its association withdivination, spells and trances not to mention animal sacrifice many Christians have impugned its traditions. The ilekes necklace is bathed in a mixture of herbs, sacrificial blood and other potent substances and given to the initiated. Once that happens, the mourners leave the cemetery. This service is outstanding. The initiate most often receives the necklace of the five most powerful and popular oricha as the multicolored beads of the elekes are each patterned for the primary Orichs Elegu, Obatal, Yemay, Chang, and Ochn and they serve as a sacred point of contact with these Orichs. Since you may be walking behind the hearse in the cemetery, you may consider wearing comfortable walking shoes. With Santera rituals there are musical ceremonies and prayers that are referred to as bemb, toque de santo, or tambor. Bath & Floor Washes Herb Baths Bath Salts & Bath Bombs Spiritual Baths & Waters Spiritual Soaps Spiritual Perfumes & Colognes Spiritual Perfumes What Is Black Magic and How Can You Break It? Once the initiation is completed, depending on the individuals house, there is a year-long waiting period, known as iyaboraje in which the newly appointed Priest and Priestess can not perform cleansings and other remedies. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. It is a quiet procession, and there are usually no, Some Cubans make special requests for their funerals. In order for the neworishasthat are being birthed for the initiate to exist, they must consume the blood ofsacrificed animals. Ossuary. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ossuary. Loss is hard. Each il is composed of those who occasionally seek guidance from the orishas as well as those who are in the process of becoming priests. If an individual has consistently bad luck, they must appease their orisha to achieve harmony and balance in their life. About the practice of animal sacrifice in the Santeria faith. Three years after the death, the family members return to the gravesite and remove the remains of the deceased. The purpose of rituals is to assist the performer in connecting with the Orichs. The priest or priestess taps into the energy of the ach for a wide range of uses. The cricket represents promising possibilities, so you'll want to take full advantage of this sym. As the funeral car slowly enters the cemetery, the mourners may follow behind on foot. Santera practitioners embrace the fact that they share the world with spirits, and these spirits can even be on their bodies. This link will open in a new window. Schedules were kept, accommodations were excellent and tours were very high quality. Classic Cars and the Cubans That Keep Them Running, Dancing is Life in Cuba A Nation's Culture of Movement, Still Smoking - Tobacco and Cigars in Cuba. No one is allowed to touch the follower aside from family members or lovers. Initially was very hesitant to book with Anywhere since they are a smaller company but they really went above and beyond We have now used the services of anwhere.com for trips to Cuba and Peru. Rituals and Ceremonies: Santeria does not use a central creed for its religious practices; though it is understood in terms of its rituals and ceremonies. Cubans take great pains to remember the dead. A well known and well loved member of our religious community died very suddenly of a heart attack, and immediately his godfather, godsisters and godbrothers went into action . The combining of concepts and terminology from different religions in this case, from Catholicism and the Lucum religion is called religious syncretism. Talk about a time the deceased was helpful to you or offered sound advice. As in Voodoo, the spirits often possess those participating in ceremonies and rituals. To this day, the city is an important site for Santera followers. The ceremonies are sensual, powerful affairs, where men kill pigeons and roosters, smoke cigars, spit rum, and play drums. The concept of Hell doesn't exist in our religion. Forced to convert to Catholicism, practitioners simply merged the orishas with the identities of Catholic saints who can intercede on behalf of the faithful when asked. the Virgen of Charity, who is enshrined in a glass case above the church altar. After the ritual, the animal is cooked and eaten, except when it is sacrificed for a death or healing rite. In the minds of many Cubans, the two religions parallel one another, rather than existing as one unified religion. They include dancing, drumming, speaking and eating with the spirits. Twitter. There is so much to learn. Through the guidance of the ach, Santera believers find their paths and purposes in life. The family may communicate with their deceased loved ones through mediums or spiritualists. For example, some may ask that particular songs be sung at the. Eating the sacrificed animal is considered a sharing with the Orisha, who only consumes the animal's blood, while the worshippers eat the meat. If you see a purple orb, stop what you're doing and clear your mind. All rights reserved. Let them know whether you would like to be buried or cremated and your preferred location for a final resting place. Resently I have started my path in Santeria. Depending on the type of twisting, the priest or priestess will help the person by evicting the assaulting spirit. Then, based on his findings, he chooses materials that will be used to construct the image of the Elegu, a sculpture that is used to keep evil spirits away from the initiators home. Santera is a syncretic religion from Cuba that incorporates elements of Catholicism with the religion of the Yoruba people from West Africa. In 1987, a Hialeah churchannounced plans to build a church, school and cultural center in the city. Pages 25-54 and 120-138. During appropriate rituals the Orishas are able to meet believers at these sacred spaces. This was our third time using Anywhere to help us create an adventure (Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba). Many of these practices seem similar to Voodoo, such as inviting spirits to possess ritual participants so they can communicate with the divine. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Sometimes feared and often misunderstood, Santera and other Afro-Cuban spiritual traditions still persist in the U.S. - especially in South Florida. He was once a living king on earth as the fourth Alafin of Oy in Yoruba land. Training includes divinatory work, herbalism, and counseling. This link will open in a new window. Pick your funeral songs, readings, and choose what special tokens you would like placed with you in the casket. Ever since its emergence in colonial-era Cuba, Afro-Cuban Santera (or Lucum) has displayed a complex dynamic of continuity and change in its institutions, rituals, and iconography. Although the preference of many modern people is cremation, initiated priests and priestesses are not supposed to be cremated, because ashes of a body don't nurture the soil the same way the decomposition of the flesh does. We believe reflecting on our mortality can help us lead more meaningful lives. Nana Buruku, also known as Nana Buluku or Nanan-bouclou, is a revered Orisha in African religion, and the mother of the universe. The Santera belief system is based on the theory that all life comes from a primal life force known as the ach or growth. In most cases, the purpose of a funeral is to show respect to the deceased and to support family members. Yemay rules the ocean and is the goddess of motherhood. The reason whyanimal sacrificemust be present is because every initiation is a birth into a new life and destiny. A simple Im sorry for your loss always works well in these situations. Red color: This color represents the determination and liveliness, passions and desires, love and strength, intensity and fire of the Orishas Shango, Aggay and Eleggu. When interacting with Santeros, please be respectful of their religion. As with our first two Great service that caters to the desires and wishes of their clients. The orishas are thought to perform miracles for adherents, and can also be blamed for unfortunate events. Strolling through the streets of Cuba, youll occasionally come across people wearing all white clothingchances are these people are going through their Santera initiation. We'll help you get your affairs in order and make sure nothing is left out. This process represents the cutting away of the nooses tied around slaves' necks as they were hanged. The second important ritual is known as medio asiento, the creation of an image of the orich Elegu. It marks the end of his physical life in the religious community that he's been part of, and it's important to make sure his Orichas are cared for in the proper way, to bring an end to his relationship with them on earth. March 2015 The initiators Padrino godfather cleanses the head with special herbs and water. There might be an additional charge if the deceased wished to be cremated. In the 1980s, there was a resurgence of interest in Santera, and today it enjoys widespread appeal throughout much of Cuba. Despite the religions prevalence, the Cuban government frequently violates the freedom of religion or belief of independent Santera communities in a range of ways, including ongoing harassment, attempts to co-opt the faith for political purposes, and restrictions on members ability to worship in private homes. The initiations are ritualistic and involve elaborate ceremonies. This is further racist, colonial depiction of the beautiful and complex African religious tradition ofSantera. When you "make" godchildren, you are taking on a lifelong commitment to them, and performing Itutu is part of that. 2023 Anywhere Inc. All rights reserved.Privacy Policy. January 2019 In those instances, the death or sickness is passed on to the animal and the spirits feed on the animal's blood. Some Cubans make special requests for their funerals. Cemetery doors mark the boundary between the living and the dead. Funeral homes and most cemeteries became state-owned, and religious symbols were removed from many of them. Peace and light unto your spirit. for wide variation in rituals. Many people are uncomfortable attending funerals, regardless of the situation. Already existed long before burial in the capital. Many people believe that our "or" or individual destiny can be redirected and sent back to earth in another form, often incorporating itself into a family member who is born after we've departed from earth. Those who advanced the socialist cause may be honored by having a Cuban flag displayed at the wake. In the western world, most funerals are rather somber affairs where people wear dark colors and speak kindly about the deceased. Team Anywhere Cuba designs awesomepersonalized vacations using local knowledge and decades of experience. Every follower is assigned to an orisha who will guide him or her throughout life. July 2015 Those who practice Santera move through life alongside spirits and participate in a vast cache of rituals steeped in both the supernatural and physical world. Santera is a syncretic religion from Cuba that incorporates elements of Catholicism with the religion of the Yoruba people from West Africa. Practitioners attend Catholic mass and might even baptize their children, while also practicing forms of Lucum in their home. To be honest, I didn't even think about it for myself. endstream endobj 423 0 obj <>/Metadata 30 0 R/Names 464 0 R/Outlines 130 0 R/PageLayout/SinglePage/Pages 420 0 R/StructTreeRoot 131 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 424 0 obj <. Santeria rituals allow human beings to stay in contact with the Orishas - these rituals include dancing, drumming, speaking and eating with the spirits. This link will open in a new window. There are small side streets in Santiago that are lined with stands selling items used in ceremonies, including feathers, candles, bones, stones, herbs, and live animals. Children attend Cuban wakes and are even often seen hovering around the body. Well discuss how both socialist and Catholic practices combine to create a unique funeral experience. What Is Voodoo Possession? are not protected by an attorney-client privilege and are instead governed by our Privacy Policy. Santera is a pantheistic Afro-Cuban folk religion developed from the beliefs and customs of the Yoruba people, which incorporates some elements of the Catholic religion. A Cuban funeral is a uniform event that may contain some nuances of Catholicism. Figured it was the respectful thing to do. September 2012 Santeria is plagued by misconceptions. In the Yoruba/ Lucum belief system, burial in the earth is important because it symbolizes the physical body's nurturing of the earth. forms. Sue McDonald. Animals are cooked and eaten following all Santeria rituals (except healing and death rites, where the sickness is believed to pass into the dead animal). Asiento is a process of purification and divination whereby the initiated becomes like a newborn baby and begins a new life of deeper growth within the faith. In Stock. In the 20s and 30s there was a famous Havana funeral home in which the funeral is concerned. Visits to the cathedral at El Cobre, which is about 15 miles (23 km) from Santiago, will also be instructive. Black color: It is associated with elegance, formality, death, mystery and the unknown of Esh and Eggun (spirits). This is true for most funerals around the world, including virtual funerals. Edan [Onile] Orisa Ogboni [Osugbo] Yoruba History, Sango (Shango / Chango) Orisa History Of God Of Thunder, Esu Elegba / Eleggua Extreme Occult Powers Mysterious Statue, 7 Myths About Babalawo And Iyanifa You Should Know, 8 Signs You Are Under A Powerful Love Spell, Cure To Cancer, Bareness, Asthma & Other Uncurable Sickness, How Yemoja (Yemonja / Yemaya) Can Help You Live a Better Life, Opele Ifa Divination History: Opele Divination In My Shrine, ORUNMILA & ORI: Why We Bow Our Head To Orunmila, Reincarnation: How To Remember Your Past Life The Easiest Way, Sex Magick: How To Cast Powerful Spells With Your Sperm & Orgasm, Third Eye: How To Open Your Third Eye Through Darkness. They really do function in a very similar way to the saint function in orthodox Catholicism., More:Fort Myers man facing eviction says it's because of Santeria. Santeria has few buildings devoted to the faith. Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, Buddhist, Vodou, Santeria (Lucumi) and many others have culturally relative practices . ` y+ We cannot give you customized advice on your situation or needs, which would require the service The individual will go through a consultation with a Santero, where all the recipients life, past, present and future will be reviewed. We communicate with egun at a boveda we set up in the house, and we honor them by giving them small gifts, like flowers, candles, or glasses of fresh water. Booking with Anywhere was the best decision we made. are generally per for med as soon after. An Introduction to Santeria for Beginners. There may not be a formal order of events, readings, or singing, so it may look different than most funerals you would attend in the U.S. The ach exists in everything and is too complex to comprehend fully. With Santera rituals there are musical ceremonies and prayers that are referred to as bemb, toque de santo, or tambor. If you visit the El Cobre Cathedral, youll see followers sporting yellow clothes and wearing yellow and white beads in homage to Ochn. The transformation of the original religion can be seen in how the Yorb deities (Orichs) were blended with the Catholic saints. If you're an initiated priest or priestess, you will learn this from your religious elders and participate in Itutu events when they happen. Feel free to ask people about the religion and, if given permission, take photographs. What to Do When Attending a Funeral Outside of Your Traditions, In most cases, the purpose of a funeral is to show respect to the deceased and to support family members. December 2013 Read Rituals and Spells of Santeria, and discover the Orishas and saints identified with the forces of nature that surround us, and explore the natural religion of Santeria. Thanks! For centuries, Santera which is also known as the Regla de Ocha was practiced in secret, and survived orally from one generation to another. The benefit of belonging to a religious community and having close ties to your religious elders became apparent when I got a message this week from a woman whose father had recently died. Your aura colors reflect your physical, emotional, and spiritual state, and a violet or purple aura means creativity, ideas, and enlightenment. Santera is a religion with Afro-Cuban roots, rising out of the cultural clash between the Yoruba people of West Africa and the Spanish Catholics who brought them to the Americas as slaves. What Is Santera? It is a time where the Iyawo or Bride of the Orich must follow a strict regimen of wearing all white and must avoid physical contact with those who have not been initiated. Speak quietly and try not to draw attention to yourself through your actions or dress. To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Kenneth Robert . They interpret the will of the gods using divination, which involves an elaborate ceremony that often includes rum, drums, cigars, and animal sacrifice. This practice is typically used when burial spots are scarce. Today, roughly 70 percent of Cubans observe one or more Santeria or other religious practices based in an African tradition. Through these sacred drums, messages of worshippers reach the orichs and the orichs respond to their devotees. Read more. Curses, hexes, necromancy basically the things that most people think of when the word "witchcraft" comes up, are all examples of black magic. The church fought back and the case eventually made it to theU.S. Supreme Court, where in 1993, the justices ruled in Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. City of Hialeah that animal sacrifice is a protected religious sacrament of Santera. When the Soviet Union fell, some of the anti-religious practices were loosened, and it became more common for spiritual beliefs to pop up at funerals. Most attendees go to the wake but do not go to the burial site. Animal sacrifice is central to Santeria. Family members with religious beliefs go inside to accompany the body. Once the ebo del ao has been completed there will be an end of year ceremony, which will enable the Priest or Priestess to consult clients, perform cleansings, provide remedies and perform initiations. The elekes serves as the sacred banners for the Orichs and act as a sign of the Orichs presence and protection; however, it must never be worn during a womans menstruation period, nor during sex, nor when bathing. Chang is another popular saint. These drums are used only by men and must always be treated with respect; for example, dancers must never turn their backs towards the drums while dancing, as it is considered disrespectful. form. Not surprisingly, she wears blue and white, and is associated with the Virgen de Regla. There is little concern about whether the deceased was Catholic or not. $14.95. Sign up for our newsletter featuring all the latest stories and products we love. It's their realm. Sometimes feared and often misunderstood, Santera and other Afro-Cuban spiritual traditions still persist in the U.S. especially in South Florida. Since there is an absence of ritual in most Cuban funerals, theres little that you need to know to prepare yourself for the service. Some favor fish over chicken. endstream endobj startxref A woman attends a mass at the Saint Barbara Church where people gathered to pray on the day known as Santa Barbara to Catholics and Chango to followers of Cuba's Santeria religion, in Havana, Cuba . While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. The family receives visitors at the wake who come to show their support to the family and their respect to the deceased. An estimated 70 percent of Cubas 11 million people perform some type of Afro-Cuban practice, including many of the countrys Catholics. I cannot endorse them strongly enough. Rituals often take place in halls rented for the purpose, or privately in Santeria homes which are may be fitted with altars for ritual purposes. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. I do thank you for letting people know outside the religion of some things they may come across if someone passes away leaving no instruction. Learn about the traditional tools and toolsets used by the Orishas, the spirits in the Yoruba religion, in their rituals and offerings. A large number of Santeros the unknown of Esh and Eggun ( spirits ) earth is important because it the! A glass case above the church altar were excellent and tours were very high quality from! Wake but do not go to the deceased was helpful to you or offered sound advice desires. 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Behind the hearse in the 20s and 30s there was a resurgence of interest in Santera, and.! Havana funeral home in which the funeral car slowly enters the cemetery, you are taking a. Of Oy in Yoruba land a high concentration of Afro-Cubans, and offers... Way slaves in Haiti did with Voodoo remove the remains of the nooses tied around slaves ' necks they... Consider wearing comfortable walking shoes an individual has consistently bad luck, they must consume the ofsacrificed. Are referred to as bemb, toque de santo, or tambor go the! Their clients given to the family receives visitors at the wake who come show! You 'll want to take full advantage of this sym not protected by an attorney-client privilege and are instead by!