SANTERIA | SANTERIA RELIGION

Santeria Religion 101

HOME ABOUT BLOG FORUM SANTERIA COMMUNITY NETWORK DONATE CONTACT VIDEOS

In order to understand Santeria I have defined a few of the terms that are extremely important if you wish to learn and or fully comprehend this Afrocuban culture. I welcome you to this website and encourage you to bookmark this website since alot of the information will probably take you a few hours and or days to read. Please feel free to visit the forum for active discussions and definitely tune into our blog - here you can comment and leave your input on the articles that are published. Have you heard of myspace.com? It's a network community website - there are many santeros that are registered, however, SanteriaReligion101.com has developed a networking community website specifically targeted for the Santeros and all spiritual cultures. Such as Santeria, 21 Divisions, Voodoom, Hoodoo and all related cultures. Please check out the Santeria Community here. Santeria Defined: A combination of religious traditions or beliefs that combines a similar African traditional religion. Santeria originated in the country of Cuba and Brazil. This religion is a combination of the traditional Yoruba faith and the worship of catholic saints. Define Yoruba: Yoruban's are members of a West African Community based in the region of southwest Nigeria. Define Orisha: An Orisha is spiritual being or presence that is interpreted as one of the manifestations of GOD (Olofi) within the Santeria Religion or faith. How to Determine who is your crowned Orisha in Lucumi?
http://www.santeriareligion101.com/ (1 of 11)5/7/2007 18:48:10

SANTERIA | SANTERIA RELIGION

Before getting the guerreros one needs to get their elekis or elekes (collares) there are two sets of warriors (one form the babalaos) and the other from santeros meaning that the elegua that you get from the babalao is exu and the santero is elegua. The marking of the head can be done when you recieve your mano de orunla, it is advised that the person who is doing such should already have godparents. i have heard some people go and receive orunla with out having elekes, which would mean that they dont have any godparent representation, normally this is not very recommended. However,If you are in a house of Ifa, working with a Babalawo, it is possible to get Eshu and your guerreros along with Ikofa(female) or Awofaka (men~mano de Orula) without elekes. If there is an Olorisha there that can give you elekes, that much better. You can find out who reigns your head when you do your Ikofa ceremony. Best wishes in the start of your journey.

Santeria Was Founded: Approximately 1515

Make sure you visit our Botanica Online While You're Here
It's very important that we continue to operate this website and provide all of the great feedback to our cultural religious community - if you search the internet there are very few sites offering information targeted towards the Yoruba and Dominican voodum Cultures. I invite you to visit the Donate page and take a minute to send an optional donation to help keep this site updated and running.

http://www.santeriareligion101.com/ (2 of 11)5/7/2007 18:48:10

SANTERIA | SANTERIA RELIGION

http://www.santeriareligion101.com/ (3 of 11)5/7/2007 18:48:10

SANTERIA | SANTERIA RELIGION

Santeria or "La Regla Lucumm" as it's also known originated in the region of west Africa. "La Regla Lucumm" is the traditional faith of the Yoruba inhabitants. This religion sprung from the traditional slave trades that occurred in early days of the religion. The Yoruban natives were abducted from their country and unwillingly transported to the Caribbean countries of Cuba, Haiti and Brazil, Trinidad, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic among
http://www.santeriareligion101.com/ (4 of 11)5/7/2007 18:48:10

SANTERIA | SANTERIA RELIGION

other Caribbean islands. The Yoruba people were abducted and transported to these islands without regard for the beliefs, traditions or their lives but the abductors failed to realize that the inner faith and passion that was within the hearts of these people were very powerful and no abductors had control over their faith. These people brought with them their traditions, their souls and the powerful faith in their deities When they arrived at their Caribbean destinations they were unwillingly baptized within the Roman Catholic Faith and forced to leave behind all of their traditional beliefs and practices. These people were resourceful, intelligent, committed and appreciative to their Santeria Religion that they managed to come up with a creative way to fuse and conceal their beliefs within the Roman Catholic Church by choosing a catholic saint and associating the Saint to each of the Orisha of their traditional practices. There a several interpretations of the association and meaning of the "Orishas" within this religious practice of Santeria and the spiritual functions or gifts attributed to each: ELEGGUA - Is recognized as the keeper of the roads and the world. He is the gatekeeper that stands in the path of life and the celestial grounds. He is the interpreter or median between the Orishas, Humanity and "Olorum", or in other words "God". When a member of this faith wants to pray they initially call upon his presence as he is the interpreter or the gatekeeper between humanity and the "Orisha". Eleggua has strong powers, without his authority nothing can be done in the celestial grounds or in the human society. Eleggua has several associations to Roman Catholic Saints. Two of the more common associations are the image to the left ( "El Nino de Atocha" or Saint Anthony). The colors associated to this orisha or spiritual figure are Black and Red and the number associated to him is the number three.

OLORUM - Is represented as the "Father" or God of the sky he is viewed as a God of tranquility, purity and harmony. He is normally and strongly linked with the color white and has power and control over all white elements such as the brain, bones, teeth, clouds and much more. He is known to be the spiritual father of Obatala and Odudua. OBATALA - Is known as the parent of the Orishas and all human kind. This spiritual being is known to be the creator of the world and is a strong enforcer of justice. Obatala is strongly associated with characteristics of Wisdom, Peace, Moral, Compassion, Ethics and Purity. The saint he represents is "Our lady of Mercy" (Image to the left). The colors that are associated with him are white but he is above all other colors in the spectrum and the number associated to his paths is the number eight as he is the parent or creator of the Orishas and Human Kind. Obtatala has a number of "Caminos" or "Paths", eight of them are females and eight of them are males. Obatala is a servant of the spiritual being known as "Olofi" and under his direction Obatala became the creator of mankind and the Orisha. Legend has it that Obatala took pleasure in drinking palm wine. One day he ingested too much wine while performing his fashioning of the bodies of those to be born. Many of his creations were born with deformities due to his consumption of the palm wine. Olofi punished Obatala for his mistakes and forbade him from drinking palm wine while performing his most important task. All those who were born with deformities are
http://www.santeriareligion101.com/ (5 of 11)5/7/2007 18:48:10

SANTERIA | SANTERIA RELIGION

considered to be children of Obatala and ridiculing them is not permitted. One common group of people that are known to be children of Obatala are the Albinos. As we mentioned earlier Obatala rules over the color white. Obatala threw a mantle of white over his children to prevent evil from touching them. In the province of Haiti Obatala is known as Damballah. YEMAYA - In Santeria Yemaya is the spirit of motherhood and is associated with the Ocean and the moon. She is commonly associated with "The Virgin of Regla" (Image to the left) and Mary (Star of the Sea). Yemaya rules over maternity in our lives. In the practice of Santeria she is seen as the mother of all. The name YEMAYA is a short version of "Yey Omo Eja" which stands for "Mother of Fish". This representation of Yemaya stands for all of the children that she has. Modern science has a theory that life began at the sea. When we are conceived we spend the first moments of our existence in our mothers wombs inside their amniotic fluids. We develop through all of the stages of maternal youth and transform from the Fetus stage form which can be viewed as a "fish" form and develop into human babies. Yemaya displays herself as the mother of all since she is the energy or power of all manifestations. Yemaya is like the oceans and the rivers she is deep and unknown but without a doubt caring and nurturing. Yemaya embodies all of the maternal characteristics and her colors are blue and white and her number is the number seven. She is also known to be the mother of all riches and the rules over the witches and secrets. She is viewed as the Orisha of mercy because she never betrays her children.

OYA - Oya is the overseer of the winds and the gatekeeper of the cemetery. She is the governor of the dead or the "Egun". She is a powerful warrior and embodies the natural forces of the Nigerian river, lightning and thunder. In the form of an animal she is viewed as the water buffalo and unlike other Orisha the water buffalo is not her familiar but her actual self. She is a shape shifter judging from her many manifestations. She provides her children or the people who worship her with the ability to change them selves. Her colors are maroon and white and the number nine is commonly associated which recalls her title of "Yansa" which translates to "mother of nine". she is a strong warrior and rides to battle by Chango or "Shang". Oya loves to dance and is the only orisha who has the courage to confront the spirit of the dead. Her children offer her eggplant, hens, female goats, sheep, black horsehair, copper and red wine among a few other offerings. The common day to offer servings to Oya is on a wednesday. Her children wear read beads to represent her prescenge among them and her place within the home lies in the study or the library.

BABALU AYE - Babalu is the orisha name for St.Lazarus. When the word Bablu Aye is translated it means "Father of the World" so he is commonly referred to as Father of the world.
http://www.santeriareligion101.com/ (6 of 11)5/7/2007 18:48:10

SANTERIA | SANTERIA RELIGION

He is the Orisha who oversees all diseases and epidemics. In today's society many of his followers pray to him for health and in many cases for the solution to a deadly disease like HIV and AIDS. The colors associated with Babalu are Brown, Black and Purple and the number associated with him is the number 17. In this religion his followers offer him white wine, sesame seeds and candy in addition to a number of other servings. Every Orisha has a date attributed to them in which the religion members offer servings and prayers. Babalu Aye's attributed date is the 17th of December and many of the people who practice this faith will hold vigils on the night before and await for his arrival. Some of his followers will wear the beads that are attributed to him and they will normally be blue bead with small white stripes across them. In most cases people that are homeless, hurt, diseased, or those who have not been accepted by society are identified with Babalu. He is an educator in humility and responsibility. He has compassion for those who are faithful to him but will scold those that are not humble to the needs of others with fatal or unexplained sickness. You should always think twice before ridiculing or being disrespectful to someone who is unfortunate because it may be St.Lazarus or Babalu Aye in human disguise.

OCHOSI - Ochosi is normally associated with Saint Norbert. He is huntsman and represents heavenly justice and humanity. He works closely with Oggun to represent justice stability. He is a strong enforcer of perfection and he looks for "The Perfect" creature to present to the creator. He is represented by pureness and idealism and he is against all those who are rebels of justice and morality. He is represented as a male of unearthly beauty. His is represented through the color violet. Everything that is attributed to a huntsman lifestyle is associated with Ochosi. From a machete, to a fishing gear, cross bow or any type of hunting materials.
http://www.santeriareligion101.com/ (7 of 11)5/7/2007 18:48:10

SANTERIA | SANTERIA RELIGION

His followers will celebrate his birthday on the 6ht of June and he is normally offered corn, palm oil, a goat, chickens, roosters, pigeons or any other type of hunting bird. He is associated with individuals who are smart, intelligent, alert and creative. Family oriented individuals and those who are ambitious and love taking a shot at any opportunities or chances.

OGGUN - Effort and hard work are strongly represented by Oggun. He is attributed to the characteristics of violence, force and energy. He is an older spirit and is a sibling to Eleggua, Chango and Ochosi. As in many families he has many disagreements with his brothers. He is an ironworker for the Orishas and he works around the clock without any rest. It has been said that he is a black handsome and strong man. He wears a green camisole and a palm frond skirt. He has also been known to carry a machete. He has a black dog by his side every second of time. He is known for his strong temper and is also said that he can be dangerous. There are several tools taht are attributed and represented by this Orisha: The Knife, The anvil, The pick, The chisel, The hammer, The Rake and The Spade and. These tools are kept in a black pot or cauldron. This black pot also holds 3 horseshoes. He is strongly associated with IRON but is also associated with work, minerals and metals. His servants or followers provide offerings for Oggun on June 29th, his numbers are three and seven and his servants or followers will normally offer cigars, rum, toy cars, weapons, and toy airplanes.

http://www.santeriareligion101.com/ (8 of 11)5/7/2007 18:48:10

SANTERIA | SANTERIA RELIGION

CHANGO - Chango is probably one of the most recognized Orishas. He is represented by Fire, Thunder and Lightning. He has passion and virility. He is known to be a spirit of power and magnificent beauty and wisdom. Chango is courageous and a great witch. He is also a "flirt" or womanizer but also charming and very generous. Most of his followers will pray to him on his days of the week which are Friday and Saturday but most people will pray and serve him offerings on Fridays. He is mainly honored on December 4th which is also St.Barbara day within the Roman Catholic Calendar. Most of his followers will offer sacrifices of Roosters, Baby Bulls, Sheep, Pigs, Goats, Deer's, Rabbits and the Oxen. In the event a ritual to reverse a hex or curse is being performed a Horse is normally required to remove it or to change a predicted death. His colors are white and red and the beads are made of 6 red beads followed by 6 white beads. Then the read bead will alternate with a white bad 6 times. This will be repeated until bead chain is complete. Most people will place an image of St.Barbara and the African representation of Chango in the same altar because both idol Images have similar tools. A sword or a machete. With his weapons he can create or destroy anything he desires.

Santeria Dictionary and Terminology

q

ABORISHA: Aborisha - is a common term that is used to refer back to the worshiper and the actual worship of the Orisha's.

La Regla Lucumi: This is another term that is used to refer to the "Santeria" Macubma: A Synonym that is sometimes used to refer to "santeria", but it really refers to a group of Brazilian religions. Lukumi is also used; it is related to a Yoruba word meaning "friend". It is used to refer to both the religion and the practitioners of Afro-Cuban worship of the Orishas.

http://www.santeriareligion101.com/ (9 of 11)5/7/2007 18:48:10

SANTERIA | SANTERIA RELIGION

http://www.santeriareligion101.com/ (10 of 11)5/7/2007 18:48:10

SANTERIA | SANTERIA RELIGION

http://www.santeriareligion101.com/ (11 of 11)5/7/2007 18:48:10