Wakes are rather somber affairs and dont include food or drink. 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. If you have the time for a conversation, you may consider sharing positive stories about the deceased. The services of a funeral home, which put the coffin, candles, crucifix and hired carriage, and asked mourners chairs borrowed from the neighbors. There are several Santeria practices performed to remind the practitioners of their history as slaves from Africa. Depending on the type of twisting, the priest or priestess will help the person by evicting the assaulting spirit. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. As a. Care must be taken, as the caskets at a Cuban funeral are often cheaply built. Children attend Cuban wakes and are even often seen hovering around the body. For example, some may ask that particular songs be sung at the. In an igbodu there is a display of three distinct thrones draped with royal blue, white and red satin that represent the seats of the queens, kings and the deified warriors. Not surprisingly, many people took this as a sign that God wanted Fidel to lead Cuba. - +. Santiago has a high concentration of Afro-Cubans, and not surprisingly, a large number of Santeros. Thanks! These rituals and ceremonies take place in what is known as a House-Temple or casa de Santos, in the homes of the initiated priests and priestesses, to the different Orichas, which creates a . If you have godchildren, you will find an Oba or Oriat who can do it, if you don't know how. and others may ask for burial with a bottle of rum. The goal of most Yoruba/Lucum people is not to spend eternity in Heaven, but to live a good life on earth. Some Cubans make special requests for their funerals. Santera is based upon the development of personal relationships through divination, sacrifice, initiation, and mediumship ( see medium) between practitioners of the religion and the orisha deities, who provide their devotees with protection, wisdom, and success and who guide devotees in times of crisis. Most ils are in the homes of the initiated priests and priestesses. It's their realm. This week, two things happened that made me think about writing this blog on the death of a santero/a. Sue McDonald. Super pleasant, helpful, and knowledgeable staff! Santera practitioners embrace the fact that they share the world with spirits, and these spirits can even be on their bodies. The saint of fire and war, he is often seen carrying a double-headed axe and is associated with red and white. It can be an offering of fresh fruits, ritual baths, offerings of cooked foods, undergoing initiation, receiving an . 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. They interpret the will of the gods using divination, which involves an elaborate ceremony that often includes rum, drums, cigars, and animal sacrifice. 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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." If you see a purple orb, stop what you're doing and clear your mind. Well discuss how both socialist and Catholic practices combine to create a unique funeral experience. Do you know the meaning of the Ritual Colors in Santeria? Similar to ancient Greek gods, the orishas represent various forces of nature along with certain human characteristicsfor example, Yemay is the orisha of the sea and motherhood. There is a strong ethic of helping others and working cooperatively to lift people out of poverty and sickness toward blessings, health, prosperity and longevity., More:Headless chickens found along Cape Coral roads likely religion-based, no threat, police say, The Church of the Orishas site acknowledges Every initiation inSanterarequiresanimal sacrifice. This ritual is only prepared by men as the orichs take some of the Santeros manly spirit in the process. Read more. There are around 400 orishas, but only 20 are regularly worshiped in Cuba. The ritual cutting is done to protect them against such a fate. All rights reserved. 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. %PDF-1.7 % With Santera rituals there are musical ceremonies and prayers that are referred to as bemb, toque de santo, or tambor. GROSSE POINTE FARMS, Mich. (AP) The first funerals were held Saturday for students who were killed in this week's mass shooting at Michigan State University.. Mourners in the Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe Farms filed into St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church to remember 20-year-old sophomore Brian Fraser, who was one of three students killed in Monday's attack. Even though American society is dressing less formally now than what was typical in the past, most people still wear suits and dresses to funerals. "}A1f6AW`q'^yDrEHe/9 ,&7R[@$%@I A$Xe 3" qRTj2P&30^ What Is Black Magic and How Can You Break It? 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. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis. The initiations are ritualistic and involve elaborate ceremonies. The sacrifice of animals plays a vital role in Santera. endstream endobj startxref If you're an initiated priest or priestess, you will learn this from your religious elders and participate in Itutu events when they happen. ", Headless chickens, other sacrificed animals draw nuisance alligators, unsettle rural Fort Myers neighborhood, Fort Myers man facing eviction says it's because of Santeria, Headless chickens found along Cape Coral roads likely religion-based, no threat, police say, Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. City of Hialeah, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Santeria is a fusion of Catholic practices and African folk beliefs. And so I think it's really ironic that the continued persecution is just because of this legacy of trying to persevere.. "Santera An African Religion in America. They also dont see contradictions between the two faiths. They connect us to the divine. That's why egun and the recycled "or" of our ancestors are part of the experience of living people on earth. The process not only brings the worshipper closer to their Orisha, but makes them more aware of the presence of the Orisha within them. Website created by Lighthaus Design, Original Products Botanica instagram Link, Original Products Botanica pinterest Link. People often dress formally for funerals. Read our Privacy Policy. The dancers show their respect by never turning their backs to the drummers. 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. HAVANA (Reuters) - The subdued atmosphere in Cuba to mark the funeral on Sunday of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro also dampened spirits at the annual celebration of Santa Barbara, a red-clad. Easiest decision you'll have to make. 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. Without sacrifice the religion would die out, as sacrifice is essential for initiation into the faith community and the 'ordination' of priests. It emerged in Cuba during the 17th century, and has been embedded in Cuban society ever since. Santeria has few buildings devoted. Each has associated colors, numbers and symbols. Santera is a syncretic religion based significantly in the traditions of the Yoruba and incorporating elements of Catholicism. In fact, the deacon usually is given no prior notice that the small procession will stop there on the way to the cemetery. In most western funerals, attendees wear modest, somber clothes, and thats the case in Cuba. Chang is another popular saint. While in Cuba, you may be able to witness private Santera ceremonies. As such, in Santera the name means Way of the Saints Catholic saints represent Yoruban divine beings, known as orishas. And while you seldom have only one color in your aura, mo, 9 Haunted Places in Alaska to Come Across Spirits, From creepy to downright scary, these haunted places in Alaska bring history alive with its many ghosts and restless spirits. the Virgen of Charity, who is enshrined in a glass case above the church altar. Santeria rituals allow human beings to stay in contact with the Orishas - these rituals include dancing, drumming, speaking and eating with the spirits. Not surprisingly, she wears blue and white, and is associated with the Virgen de Regla. Sometimes feared and often misunderstood, Santera and other Afro-Cuban spiritual traditions still persist in the U.S. - especially in South Florida. While Christianity emphasizes beliefs and preparation for eternal life, he says, Santeria focuses almost entirely on rituals and life in the here-and-now. 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