Santería's reach goes global via the Web
Source: MiamiHerald.com
BY TERE FIGUERAS NEGRETE
DONNA E. NATALE PLANAS
BOOMING BUSINESS: Pictured here is Nelson
Carrasco, whose family sells Santero trappings wholesale
out of their old Hialeah warehouse.
Nelson Carrasco works inside a cavernous Hialeah warehouse,
under the unblinking figures of Catholic saints and African
gods, surrounded by his stock in trade: hollowed bull's horns,
cast-iron cauldrons and blocks of virgin beeswax, said to curry
good fortune.
But the tools of his trade are decidedly less mystical: a
sleek Compaq laptop and the Internet........
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the full story
July 2, 2006
Santeria: The Survival of an Ancient African Religion
Many perceive Santeria as a bizarre an undesirable amalgamation of primitive,
pagan beliefs and Roman Catholicism. Many believe the religion to be a
dangerous, perhaps even Satanic, variation of Voodoo featuring zombies,
indiscriminate animal sacrifices and other totems that make those from “first
world” religious backgrounds uneasy.
The truth behind Santeria is far less ominous. Santeria is a legitimate religion
with roots that trace deep back into history.
European colonization of the “new world” brought with it the importation of
slavery. Many slaves were Yoruba’s (that territory lies in what is now a part of
modern-day Nigeria). The Yorubans practiced a highly evolved religion that
included multiple Orishas, which can be roughly understood as beneficial forces
akin to saints in Christian religious practices or lesser deities in
polytheistic religions. Yorubans understood the concept of “Ashe,” the life
force of every person, and developed a number of worship and celebration
rituals.
Slaveholders found the idea of Yoruban religious practices add odds with their
own ostensibly Christian belief structure. Fearing the unique customs of the
Yorubans and understanding the risk its unfettered practice could have upon the
institution of slavery, European colonists in the Americas attempt to destroy
the faith and while the Catholic Church worked to convert slaves to
Christianity.
The religion we now call Santeria, however, did not die. It went undercover
instead. Yoruban slaves worshipped the Orishas, but they disguised the figures
as Catholic saints. While dancing to the sacred Yoruban drums would not have
been tolerated, considerately praying before a representation of a Catholic
saint was encouraged. In reality, those prayers were not directed to the
Christian martyrs, but to the Orishas. This practice is the source of the name
“Santeria,” a Spanish word referring to the worship of Saints.
Yorubans continued other rituals and practices of their faith covertly, as well.
Due to the historical context, the traditions were necessarily cloaked in
secrecy. This allowed the religion to survive, but gave it an air of mystery
that survives today.
Santeria does involve a level of mysticism to which many from Judeo-Christian
backgrounds are not accustomed and limited animal sacrifices under specific
circumstances (primarily chickens) can be practiced by Santerians. However,
those who perceive the faith as a dark and dangerous force are incorrect.
Santeria represents the survival of peaceful and ancient traditional African
religion against tremendous odds. It is still practiced today in many parts of
the Caribbean and the United States.
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