Santería
Yoruba-Catholic fusion faith
Santería is an Afro-Caribbean religion that developed in Cuba, blending West African Yoruba traditions with Roman Catholicism.
Enslaved Africans syncretized their orishas (deities) with Catholic saints, allowing them to preserve their spiritual practices under colonial oppression.
Practitioners honor ancestors and orishas through rituals involving drumming, animal sacrifice, divination, and offerings.
The religion spread throughout the Caribbean and Latin America and has significant followings in the United States, particularly in Cuban and Puerto Rican communities.
Yoruba pantheon spirit
- YorubaNigerian people and language
- syncretismFusion of different beliefs
- divinationForetelling through mystical means
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
polytheism · sacrifice · ceremony · priesthood · godparent · spiritual · devotion · worship
Ritual killing for deities
- offeringSomething presented or given
- cleansingRemoving dirt or toxins
- possessionState of owning
- tranceSemiconscious, unresponsive condition
drumming · chanting · altar · throne · cowrie shells · divination · libation · feast
Caribbean island country
- CaribbeanTropical Atlantic region
- Afro-CubanBlending African and Cuban
- African diasporaGlobal spread from one continent
- slave tradeCommerce in human beings
Miami · New York · Puerto Rico · Venezuela · Brazil · Vodou · Havana · emigration
orisha
Yoruba pantheon spirit
- YorubaNigerian people and language
- syncretismFusion of different beliefs
- divinationForetelling through mystical means
initiation · polytheism · sacrifice · ceremony · priesthood · godparent · spiritual · devotion · worship · tradition
animal sacrifice
Ritual killing for deities
- offeringSomething presented or given
- cleansingRemoving dirt or toxins
- possessionState of owning
trance · drumming · chanting · altar · throne · cowrie shells · divination · libation · feast · celebration
Cuba
Caribbean island country
- CaribbeanTropical Atlantic region
- Afro-CubanBlending African and Cuban
- African diasporaGlobal spread from one continent
slave trade · Miami · New York · Puerto Rico · Venezuela · Brazil · Vodou · Havana · emigration · community
beads
Small pierced ornaments for stringing
tureen · machete · cauldron · herbs · candles · rum · cigars · honey · coconut · feathers
deity
Worshipped supernatural being
- patronRegular supporter or customer
- avatarDigital user representation
- manifestationOutward display of something
thunder · ocean · river · crossroads · iron · warrior · mother · fertility · wisdom · justice
SanteríaRoman Catholicism
Papal Christian tradition
religious fundamentalism · doctrinal purity · Orthodox Judaism · Southern Baptist Convention · fundamentalism
SanteríaRoman Catholicism
Papal Christian tradition
Lutheran Church · Presbyterian Church · Anglicanism · Methodist Church · secular humanism
Santeríamonotheism
Belief in one god
Islam · Judaism · Protestantism · Calvinism · Wahhabism
saint, saints, saintly, sainthood, saintliness, sanctify, sanctified, sanctification, sanctuary