The Santeria

Santeria is a syncretic religion of Caribbean origin, resulting from the union of the Yoruba religion with Catholicism, is also known as Regla de Ocha, Ifa. Their priests are known as Babalorichas, "Fathers of Orisha" and Iyalorichas, "Mothers of Orisha". The Orishas are a set of Gods of the Yoruba Religion, that the syncretic mix with Catholicism were given the name of Santos, so Santa Barbara syncretized with Chango, Yemaya with La Virgen de Regla, and so on. The Babalorichas and Iyalorichas are also known as Santeros or Santeras due at the end of Santeria. If you also work as diviners of the Orishas, are called Oriatés.

The highest rank within it have Santeria priests and priestesses of Ifa. Both priests and priestesses of Ifa receive Orunmila who is the Orisha of Prophecy, Wisdom and Knowledge, this is syncretized with St. Francis of Assisi. The Ifa priests are known as Babalawos which means "Father who knows the secrets" and priestesses as Iyanifa or "Mother of Destiny", they can perform all functions and ceremonies except IGBA deliver or look Iwa Odu. Women also are introduced as Appetebi Ifa, "Wife of Orunmila. The most popular Orishas in Santeria are Elegua, Ogun, Ochosi, Oshun, Chango, Oya, Obatala, Yemaya and Orula.

Santeria worship one God, a central entity, which created all that exists, which we call Oloddumare. Oloddumare in the world is expressed through the extension of himself, which left everything there and it all must return, this is called Ashe. Ashe is the absolute basis of reality, is the current divine that expresses the power of God in everything around us is invisible cosmic force that comes from the Creator.

Santeras Santeros and we believe that our life has been chosen by ourselves before birth, but when it comes to the earthly plane many times we deviate from our goals by the peculiarities of our environment. To achieve a communion with our guardian angel, and come with more ease and fewer obstacles to these goals we have already decided in advance is coming to help the Orishas and the ceremony of crowning Santo, where the Saints through its Oracle advise us and guide us to our destination.

Saints or Orishas are extensions Oloddumare also, are the protectors of mankind, from birth and each Orisha has chosen us to be our protector, or Guardian Angel. Knowing who is our guardian angel carries a ceremony through the oracle of Ifa babalawos or the high priests of Santeria are known by us which we were elected Orisha. We often have similar characteristics to our guardian angel and the children of Chango, the warrior god, are characterized by their courage and sense of justice.

Santeria: A religion where syncretized Yoruba Religion and Catholicism.

The universe in Santeria:

Olodumare
He is the creator and only God. From Him comes the energy that sustains the entire universe, and is called Ashe (comparable to the Chi or the Tao in Eastern religions, Christian and Grace). Olodumare never can be represented pictorially and has no human attributes. However, another name is Olorún Olodumare humanized, male figure whose name means "owner of heaven".

Saints or Orishas
Directly emanating from Olodumare, and Orishas are the guardians and interpreters of the universal destination. Some were human in the distant past, and his extraordinary life came to the spiritual dignity of the Orishas. Are honored with rituals, music, special meals and prayers, and are manifested through priests or priestesses who own or live temporarily. They offer help and advice in all areas of life.

The Egungun
They are the ancestors or direct ancestors of each family, revered shrines in their own family or community. Its mission is to ensure the continuation of Yoruba society and social justice at all levels. They are also, in general, the spirits of deceased persons.

Humans
This category includes both people who are alive and those who are unborn. His power is critical, because only humans can realize the intentions and wishes of the Orishas. However, they are free to do good or evil.

Plants and animals
They are mutually dependent on humans, who in turn will require for their survival and feeding. Source of healing, food and sacrifice. Plants, animals and humans depend on all of the land, deified as Onile.

The other things
Rocks, clouds, rivers and metals are considered beings with a will, power and intent. The stars are the residence of the Orishas, the Olorún Egungun and who belong to another dimension parallel to the visible.

Relationship between the Orishas and the Saints:

History:

Santeria is a syncretic religion. It is a system of beliefs that bind the Yoruba Religion (Brought to the New World by slaves brought from Africa to the Caribbean to work the sugar cane plantations) with Roman Catholicism and Native American traditions. These slaves bear their own religious traditions, including a tradition of communication with their ancestors and deities through sacrifice and practice of sacred touch of drum and dance rituals. These slaves who were brought to the Caribbean, Central and South America were forced to convert to Christianity.

However, they were able to preserve their traditions, bringing together several traditional beliefs of the ancient tribes heard of the rule in Nigeria where the Yoruba residing and which included the territories of Egba, Ijesha, Dahomean, Asanti and Bini with elements of Christian culture, resulting in Santeria or Regla de Ocha.

In Cuba this religious tradition has evolved into what is now known as Santeria. In 2001 there were approximately 22,000 practitioners in the U.S. only, but the number may be higher since some people who refuse to inform practice their religion.

Some in Cuba and iyalochas babalochas are full-time practitioners, priests and priestesses, which the cult is their way of life. Santeras Santeros and saints are grouped into houses, which are inherited from its founders. Many are those who come to babalochas, iyalochas and babalawos to solve their everyday problems.

Religion is based on nature worship and the forces of order, known as Orishas. Santeria was a derogatory term to call this religion which based their faith in the cult of saints. The term or Santeria Santeria is used to describe the priests and priestesses, replacing the usual term of Oloricha, which is nothing more than an extension of the deity. The Saints were known as Orishas syncretized with the Catholic pantheon.

To preserve their ancestral beliefs, the Lukumi people, brought as slaves to the lands of America had no choice but to disguise its Orichas as Catholic saints. When Catholic slave owners observed Africans celebrating their day of a saint, usually unaware that these were actually held to a particular Orisha. In Cuba today the Orisha or Santo term is used interchangeably to describe the same deity.

The term Santería was originally a definition used to mock on devotion to the saints. It was subsequently applied to define religion by those who practiced it. This relationship between Catholic saints and the Orishas is somehow characterized by the fact that most santeras Santeria in Cuba and also consider themselves Catholics, have been baptized, and often are required to be crowned, or become holy and become Santeria Santero or being baptized.

In Cuba today Santeria is practiced routinely and performed rituals to honor the saints or Orishas, and is no longer necessary to disguise the practice of religion as Catholicism.

Santeria is also mixed with spiritism to communicate with the spirits of the dead, and relates to other religions such as Palo Mayombe, a religion based entirely on communication with the dead.

Many turn to Santeria today because this is a religion that works to find the balance here on earth, while traditional religions are based on what will happen next. Since Cuba has left this religion which today has thousands of supporters gathered mainly in Cuba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Panama, United States, Canada, Spain and Italy.