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Santeria
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The Santeria (Santería in accordance with the English spelling) comes from the syncretism of the Catholic religion with other elements of traditional Yoruba religion, practiced by African slaves and their descendants in Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Panama and even in places with many Latin American immigrants in the U.S. (such as Florida, New York and California).

The term "Santeria" was coined by the English to denigrate what seemed to them an excessive devotion to the saints by their slaves, who were thus not understand the role of God in the Catholic religion. This attitude was born of a constraint imposed on them by slaveholders: the prohibition of mandatory, on pain of death, to practice their animist religions brought with them from West Africa, forced them to find a solution to circumvent this prohibition and that is to conceal, in the true sense of the word, behind the Catholic iconography of their gods so that they are free to worship without incurring the cruelty of the oppressor. In this way, the English rulers thought that slaves, like good Christians, the saints were praying when in fact they were in fact maintaining their traditional faiths.

"Santeria" is, or was, a derogatory term. Practitioners often prefer other names such as Regla de Ocha or Lukum.


Historical Overview

The Cuban Santeria, religious form pseudopoliteistica [in reality is a monotheistic religion: the God is called Oloddumare. He, however, many "emanations" which are the so-called "orishas" (holy), so it would seem a polytheistic religion when in fact, worshiping the various emanations of the one god, Oloddumare, exactly, is adored the one God] has given new impetus at the end of the nineteenth century with the return of some freed slaves in Africa. In the twentieth century a new impulse is given by the Cuban revolution of '59. There are two major consequences: the export of worship in North America and, secondly, the clearance of the Castro regime to the practice of this religion for ideological reasons even anti-Catholic and exploitation of popular culture and the poorer classes , which inevitably were of African American origin. Finally, the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent opening to tourism, especially Europe, has led to the cult in the Old Continent, both by the Cuban migration, both through visitors Europeans were fascinated by cults and practices of Santeria.
Cultural influences and rituals [edit]

The influence of Cuban Santeria on cultural expressions typically is marked, especially in dance and music. The Afro-Cuban musical styles (first of all in that Rumba is the dance most closely associated with African roots, but also Mambo to Salsa, maybe not the Son) are strongly influenced by the syncopated rhythmic figures and used in rituals such as meetings based on drums honor of the god, or holy, Chang. Track symbol that contains all the magic of Santeria is ¿Y TU QUE QUE TE DEN quieres? master Adalberto Alvarez interspersed with songs in language Yoruba, the same language which is still officiate in the rites. The dance is also inspired by the rituals of Yoruba origin. Every saint has a characteristic motion that distinguishes it from others. The Cuban regime considers these artistic expressions a nation's cultural heritage and therefore has a high academic level, re-evaluating the importance of a political question. The fact Santeria is a valuable tool as opposed to Catholicism. Thanks to what are now world famous folk song and dance groups, such as the "Conjunto Folklorico Nacional", "Los Muñequitos de Matanzas", "Yoruba Andabo" and composer Lazaro Ros.

The followers of Santeria in Cuba, while acknowledging the similarities and the common origins with Brazilian Candomblé and Macumba Voodoo and the Haitian claim not to practice black magic, but only the white one. In practice only divination, and rituals to foster success in love, in the economic and health care provider or treatment of diseases. Liturgical litanies and formulas are presumably in Yoruba language (of the Niger-Congo language family) that in fact few people understand (but recite from memory) and private practices are based on the cult of the dead and ancestors to which reserves a corner of the house and provide food and drinks specific to each saint. Also present was the Hindu-Buddhist concept of reincarnation, particularly for those who do not practice the rituals. There are then the collective rituals accompanied by drums with phenomena of possession, trance etc..


Divinity

The main deity of Cuban Santeria, however, are similar if not identical to those of other African-American religions. It is a kind of pantheon where, however, in addition to various deities, are abstract concepts to demonstrate a reasonable level of development of religious, philosophical and metaphysical. For example, the trilogy-Olof Olordumare-Olorun that simplifying the law-maker is the universal life-force (a kind of Holy Trinity). Are the source of the ACE, the gift, the grace, the spiritual energy. For some do not This is a trilogy, but one God, then it would be a monotheistic religion Santeria, the Orishas and the rest of the demigods (humans who have done great things in life and after death were elected to the rank of deity) that embody the nature act as messengers of the primordial divinity. The latter (about 400 in the original religion Yoruba, Santeria in the forty, fifteen of which only those known by the majority of the faithful) against recall for some Greek mythology with the various anthropomorphic gods in war, you steal her friends, take revenge , rape, come together and protect each other. The mythology of these deities, often in contradiction between them, are called Pattakìn and are of considerable anthropological interest.

Some of the major Orishas (saints) are simplifying the Cuban Santeria:

Elegguà: patron god of travelers, is the one that opens and closes the roads, crossings and that when he dances like a naughty boy, messenger, holds the keys of destiny. In the ritual has the privilege of always being the first (abre el FP). It is the protector of travelers, roads and intersections. Cattolicizzato with St. Anthony of Padua, its colors are red and black.

Obatala: First among the Orishas. The creator of the earth. Pure deity par excellence, peace-loving and merciful. He is the god's head, thought and dreams. Cattolicizzato as the Virgin de Mercedes, its color is white.

Yemaya: Mother of life and the other gods. Wife or, depending on the model, daughter of Obatala. Goddess of the sea salt water and then as a primordial source of life. Protector of pregnant women, fishermen and sailors. Corresponds to the Virgin Mary (Nuestra Señora de la Regla, the patron saint of the Bay of Havana). Its colors are white and blue.

Chang or Shang: God of virility, masculinity, fire, lightning and thunder, war, dance and music of the drums in particular. Perhaps inspired by a mythical king of the Yoruba Oyo kingdom. His countless love affairs and fights with rivals. His alleged wives or lovers are at least three: Ochún (see below), Oya (wind warrior goddess, wife of Oggùn that this is the rival and enemy of Change), and Obba (goddess of the cemetery, the eternal love with Chang for he cut off his ear), but it sure was with the women of the Yoruba pantheon. Unwanted child of Yemaya, the result of a rape, but protected by Obatala. The Catholic saint is like Obatala strangely feminine and Santa Barbara. Its colors are white and red.

Ochún or Oshun: The consideration of women's Change (of which he is a lover). Goddess of love, beauty, femininity and rivers. A little 'coquette' protected Elegguà and Yemaya. Cattolicizzata as the Virgin de la Caridad del Cobre "(the patron saint of Cuba). Color yellow, gold.

Orula: divination personified, the main benefactor of mankind because he reveals the future and recommend. Pure son of Yemaya, but from an incestuous relationship with his son Oggùn, a mountaineer solitary and irascible, the god of iron - San Pietro), saved from the wrath of Obatala by Elegguà and protected by his older brother Chang. Identified in San Francisco of Assisi and the colors are yellow and green.

Babalu Aye : God, healer of many sexually transmitted diseases, skin, leprosy, cholera, etc. illness in general. Therefore, it is therefore associated with St. Lazarus. The colors are white and blue. This in Africa was the largest and most revered saint in Havana there is a shrine in his honor (Rincon), where they go every year on December 17 thousands of sick.

Oggùn: Orisha blacksmith, forger of metals and mentor to all those with metals have to do, including soldiers and warriors. By extension of religion is also associated with war and violence, in contrast to Chang-association, which is also a rival in love for being, according to a former Pataki (legend), seduced and then abandoned dall'avvenente Oshun, who used his thanks for the sole purpose to bring it back to the people from whom he was seconded to disgust. Oggùn Orisha is feared because it is very sociable and the power of its weapons, even if it is not listed among the evil entity. He is just the archetype of the violent demonstrations inherent in human nature. Syncretism with the Catholic religion associated with St. Peter's, perhaps because of some manifestations of vehemence by the Father of the Church

These are some of the major deities of Santeria. There are also countless children. Of course there are rules for unique names, attributes, and legends (patakkìn oral tradition cataloged only in the twentieth century). The rituals vary depending on the school liturgical (reglas). Often deities are mixed and the discourse on the phenomenon of syncretism with the Catholic religion deserves a chapter to itself. It is an attempt to integrate the Santeria of Catholicism, or a cunning slave who venerate Catholic saints avoided harassment and persecution? This is a debate dealt with by anthropologists and historians as Sixto Gaetan Argyriadis Agüero and Kali.
systems of divination [edit]

The system of divination are four

* The system of divination using Diloggún the shell, which formerly was used as currency in Africa. The santero launches 16 shells, in some cases by "reading" only 12. The interpretation and the response is made based on the number of shells fell with the concave top and through a succession of launches.

* The system of divination Biague needs of the coconut, which is used as a ritual offering to the Orisha and donated in honor of ancestors. Are thrown in the air four parts coconut and the response is determined depending on the location, side cable or convex side, taking the floor.

ekuele * The system of divination that uses a special instrument, a chain of eight parties. The chain was launched in the air and depending on how the pieces are placed one can interpret the response of divination, which is enriched by a series of proverbs and stories, related to the problem addressed.

* Tablero de Ifa divination system requires the shedding of a magical white powder derived from a tusk of an elephant on a particular table whose four sides are combined with many gods. The babalawo, the priest in charge of witchcraft, depending on how many seeds of kola (ikines) remain in his left hand (1 or 2 out of 16) of the track marks on the Tablero, achieving the same combination dell'ekuelé.