Santería

Santería is a complex African diaspora religion.

It developed in Cuba during the late 19th century. Many people call it Regla de Ocha or Lucumí. The name Santería means "the way of the saints." This term was used by scholars in the 1930s. It later became the most popular name among practitioners. Some followers prefer Regla de Ocha. They see this as the official name of the faith. The religion is quite diverse. There is no central authority or single leader. Practitioners are often called creyentes, which means "believers."

The religion relies on a specific spiritual mechanism. It centers on the concept of aché. Aché is a supernatural force that fills the universe. Practitioners believe Olodumare is the source of this force. Olodumare is the transcendent creator divinity. This deity is often seen in three facets. Olorun is the creator of all beings. Olofi dwells within all creation. Olodumare represents the divine essence of everything. Humans interact with the divine through oricha. These are spirits that rule over different natural forces. Each person has a personal link to an oricha. This spirit can influence a person's unique personality.

There are many different types of oricha. Some were created before humanity existed. Others were humans who became oricha through great qualities. They live in a realm called orún. This is separate from ayé, the human realm. Some oricha have many different manifestations called caminos. These are similar to the concept of avatars. The oricha are not always purely good. They can be both helpful and harmful to humans. They possess a mix of virtues and vices. Their stories and myths are called patakís.

Specific oricha serve very distinct roles. Eleguá is a famous warrior deity. He guards crossroads and thresholds. He acts as a messenger between humans and spirits.

Ogun is the oricha of iron and blacksmiths. He is also linked to weapons and war. Ochosi is associated with hunting and the woods. Ochún is a protector who warns of danger. She is also linked to rivers and romantic love. Changó is a very popular oricha. He is associated with fire and lightning.

Yemaja is the deity of the sea and maternity.

Obatalá is the oricha of truth and justice.

The history of Santería is tied to the Atlantic slave trade. This occurred between the 16th and 19th centuries. Most practitioners brought Yoruba traditions from West Africa. In Cuba, these traditions met Roman Catholicism. The Spanish colonial government only allowed Catholicism. Enslaved people blended their deities with Catholic saints. This process is called syncretism. In the late 19th century, Spiritism also joined the mix. This was a French variant of Spiritualism. After 1898, Cuba became an independent republic. This brought freedom of religion to the island.

Practitioners use various rituals to connect with the divine. They venerate oricha at altars in their homes. They also use an ilé, which is a house-temple.

A santero or santera runs the ilé. Membership in these houses requires initiation. Ritual offerings include fruit, liquor, and flowers. Some rituals also involve sacrificed animals.

A central ritual is the toque de santo. During this, people drum, sing, and dance. They do this to encourage an oricha to possess a member. This allows the spirit to communicate. They also use divination, such as Ifá, to receive messages.

Santería has a significant global presence today. It is most common in Cuba's La Habana and Matanzas provinces. However, large communities exist in the United States and Mexico. The number of initiates is estimated in the high hundreds of thousands. These initiates serve as healers and diviners for many others. This makes exact numbers hard to determine. The religion is flexible and eclectic. It has absorbed ideas from Chinese migrants in Cuba. In North America, it connects with New Age practices. It also shares links with Haitian Vodou and Brazilian Candomblé.