Page 50 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

48 ❯❯ The Top 10 of Everything

Santería

Orishas
1
The many deities of Santería
(an Afro-Caribbean religion) act as
intermediaries between human
beings and the supreme god, Olorún.
Most orishas are avatars of Catholic
saints, and each has his or her own
costume, colors, symbols, and favor-
ite foods, as well as specific abilities.
Each believer has a per sonal orisha,
who is considered to have the power
over that person’s destiny and is Sacred elekes
worshipped in daily life. Elekes
Santeros
2 4
These necklaces of colored
beads relate to specific orishas. While
Santeros are practitioners,
initiated formally into Santería, and the uninitiated wear generic elekes,
are believed to be possessed by their the bead patterns are deter mined by
personal orisha who guides them to santeros, who prepare these necklaces
a better life. Santeros are easily using divination to find an order that
identified by their metal bracelets reflects the iyawó’s (initiate’s) path.
and colorful necklaces, which
Obi
represent their particular orisha. 5
Santería adherents believe
Altars
3 that the wisdom of the orishas can
Altars are decorated with the
be divined by dropping four pieces
attributes of the orisha, including their of coconut shell and studying the
image in the form of a doll, devotional pattern they form. Mojubas (prayers)
objects, and ebó (offerings). Tiny bells, are said to invite the orisha to speak.
maracas, and agogó (rattles) are These obi (oracles) are considered
played to awaken the orisha. to help the believer reach wise
decisions. At times, sacred palm
seeds or cowrie shells are cast
to invoke other oracles.
Initiation Ceremonies
6
Believers who seek a new
path in life make a pact of veneration
and obedience with their orisha
through a week-long series of
rituals. These require rigid
adherence to meet the orisha’s
approval. The final initiation usually
involves animal sacrifice. For a year
thereafter, the iyawó will adhere to
strict prescrip tions of behavior and
dress solely in white.
Ebó
7
Santería rites, known as ebó,
require offerings of food and drink
to the orishas. An ebó often involves
Ceramic and wood Santería symbols ritual cleansing, and may include

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