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[[File:Santeria ceremonio.jpg|400px|thumb|A rooster sacrificed to Elegua as part of a shrine]] | |||
'''Santería''' also known as '''Regla de Ocha''', '''Regla Lucumí''', or '''Lucumí''', is an [[African diaspora religion|Afro-Caribbean religion]] that developed in Cuba during the late 19th century. It arose amid a process of syncretism between the traditional Yoruba religion of West Africa, the Roman Catholic form of [[Christianity]], and [[spiritualism|Spiritism]]. | '''Santería''' also known as '''Regla de Ocha''', '''Regla Lucumí''', or '''Lucumí''', is an [[African diaspora religion|Afro-Caribbean religion]] that developed in Cuba during the late 19th century. It arose amid a process of syncretism between the traditional Yoruba religion of West Africa, the Roman Catholic form of [[Christianity]], and [[spiritualism|Spiritism]]. | ||
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==The ''oricha''== | ==The ''oricha''== | ||
Santeria is polytheistic, revolving around deities called ''oricha'', ''ocha'', or ''santos'' ("[[ | [[File:Santa Barbara Orisha.jpg|400px|thumb|Woman dressed to resemble the Santa Barbara ''orisha'' (Shango)]] | ||
Santeria is polytheistic, revolving around deities called ''oricha'', ''ocha'', or ''santos'' ("[[saint]]s"). The term ''oricha'' can be both singular and plural, because Lucumí, the ritual language of Santería, lacks plural markers for nouns. Practitioners believe that some ''oricha'' were created before humanity, while others were originally humans who became ''oricha'' through some remarkable quality. Some practitioners perceive the ''oricha'' as facets of Olodumare, and thus think that by venerating them they are ultimately worshipping the creator god. Certain ''oricha'' are female, others male. They are not regarded as wholly benevolent, being capable of both harming and helping humans, and displaying a mix of emotions, virtues, and vices. | |||
Origin myths and other stories about the ''oricha'' are called patakíes. Each ''oricha'' is understood to "rule over" a particular aspect of the universe, and they have been described as personifications of different facets of the natural world. They live in a realm called ''orún'', which is contrasted with ''ayé'', the realm of humanity. ''Oricha'' each have their own ''caminos'' ("roads"), a concept akin to the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] concept of avatars. The number of ''caminos'' an ''oricha'' has varies, with some having several hundred. Practitioners believe that ''oricha'' can physically inhabit certain objects, among them stones and cowrie shells, which are deemed sacred. Each ''oricha'' is also associated with specific songs, rhythms, colors, numbers, animals, and foodstuffs. | Origin myths and other stories about the ''oricha'' are called patakíes. Each ''oricha'' is understood to "rule over" a particular aspect of the universe, and they have been described as personifications of different facets of the natural world. They live in a realm called ''orún'', which is contrasted with ''ayé'', the realm of humanity. ''Oricha'' each have their own ''caminos'' ("roads"), a concept akin to the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] concept of avatars. The number of ''caminos'' an ''oricha'' has varies, with some having several hundred. Practitioners believe that ''oricha'' can physically inhabit certain objects, among them stones and cowrie shells, which are deemed sacred. Each ''oricha'' is also associated with specific songs, rhythms, colors, numbers, animals, and foodstuffs. | ||
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* Agagyú: volcanoes and the wasteland. | * Agagyú: volcanoes and the wasteland. | ||
Although in Santería the term ''santo'' is regarded as a synonym of ''oricha'' and is not a literal reference to Christian [[ | Although in Santería the term ''santo'' is regarded as a synonym of ''oricha'' and is not a literal reference to Christian [[saint]]s, the ''oricha'' are often conflated with one or more Roman Catholic saints based on similar attributes. | ||
===Relationships with the ''oricha''=== | ===Relationships with the ''oricha''=== | ||