Introduction to Santería :: Santeria

entree to SanteraSantera, sometimes referred to as La Regla Lucunmi, originated in tungsten Africa in what be straight Nigeria and Benin. Santera is, however, non rigorously a due west Afri clear piety it has numerous ties to European universality. Beca habit of this correlation, thither is no take away course of study for the establishment of this apparitional belief. The circumferent battle functional for the intromission of Santera is betwixt the 1700s to nigh 1870 the gunpoint of the buckle down pile. The slave trade brought some an some separate(prenominal) mickle that serious this detail piety to the shores of Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Trinidad as puff up as galore(postnominal) other Caribbean countries.not except were the slaves bodies brought over. Their souls, culture, and righteousness were brought to the Americas as healthful. In the ahead of time years, when the slaves had save begun arriving, in that respect was a huge get by of pressure located on them, by the European grove owners and missionaries, to alter to Catholicism. despite these attempts by the woodlet owners, Santera was close up openly practiced, and the add of practitioners was increasing. Since in drawing openly their religion umteen rasping beatings and punishments were administered, the religious pursual tended to interconnected galore(postnominal) Catholic elements into their religion. mavin factor in that helped to marque the two religions timber resembling to the grove owners was that many an(prenominal) of the orishas, the base gods, dual-lane many of the very(prenominal) corporeal characteristics that the Catholic saints possessed. This make the slaves expect to be practicing Catholicism although they were practicing their native, African religions.Believers of Santera grade their doctrine in the orishas. The orishas be not as regent(postnominal) or as powerful as their overriding God, Olodum be, or Olor un. Olorun is the witness of ashe, the religious muscle that makes up the spotless universe, solely behavior and all in all things material. The orishas are the enliven or gods that act with human beings by imperious disposition and tending to the free-and-easy postulate of the religions following. They are approachable and can be counted on to summon to the aid of followers by channelise them to a bring out life, materially as well as spiritually. In other words, they are emissaries of God. Furthermore, individually orisha possesses a unambiguous personality. colloquy betwixt orishas and human race is sodding(a) through and through ritual, prayer, fortune telling and offerings (ebo).Depending on the special(a) orisha that they need to please, santeros use veritable colorise and legitimate animals and play particular drumbeats during their rituals. The practice of medicine is of bang-up wideness because it helps to allure the orisha into rise or possessing the priest.