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Voodoo

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Voodoo ~vs.~ Santeria|
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When people think of chicken bones, dolls, love potion and spells they tend to think of “Black Magic”/Witches. At least that is how it has been depicted in many movies, and TV shows for many, many years. What people don’t realize is that “black magic” also known as Voodoo and the Santeria religion, which has been around way before television was even invited and way back into slavery days. In this paper I plan to show the differences and similarities between the two religions so one may get a better understanding of this so called “black magic.
ORGINS: Both Voodoo and Santeria originated from the Yoruba people of West Africa. When abducted from their homes and made slaves in the Americas and the Caribbean, without regards to their beliefs and faith. They brought their beliefs with them, but were forbidden to be practice. Being forbidden, these people were forced to keep their beliefs hidden and behind closed doors. During the days of slavery the Roman Catholic faith were forced upon those that were made slaves. But some slaves were smart and resourceful; they decided to hide their native religion of either Voodoo or Santeria in the very same Catholic religion that was being forced upon them.
BELIEFS: according to Wikipedia, “Voodoo combines the elements of European and African beliefs and Roman Catholicism.” Those who believe in Voodoo “believe that spiritual forces, which can be kind or mischievous, shape daily life through and intercede in the lives of their followers.” They believe you can have a “connection with the spirits through dance, music, singing and the use of snakes, which represent Legba, Voodoo’s “main spirit conduit to all others.”” (Louisiana Voodoo, 2011)

Santeria according to New World Encyclopedia “the followers of Santeria believe in a creator God who is called Olodumare .There are no actions that are purely "good" or purely "evil"—all declarations of right and wrong are based on the circumstances in which they arise. Within each person, and most Orishas, are the potential for good and the potential for evil.” (Santeria, 2011)
GODS: In order to hide their faith, both Voodoo and Santeria have Christian saints associated with their beliefs and spirits. “An Orisha is spiritual being or a presence that is interpreted as on of the manifestations of God (Olofi) within Santeria Religion or faith.” (Santeria, 2011) There are many “Orishas” within Santeria. The most common Catholic saints that were used were St. Anthony also known as Eleggua he is considered the interpreter of the Orishas. St. Lazarus known as Babalu Aye considered the “Father of the World” he oversees sicknesses. Yemaya who is the spirit of motherhood is associated with “Virgin of Regla” or Mary. (Santeria, 2005-2006)
In Voodoo there are also Gods and are called Loa, a word meaning “mystery” in Yoruba. They have a senior God Olorun, and Obatala the lesser God. The greater God is considered to be remote and unknowable, he also authorized the lesser God to create the earth and all life (Robison, 2007) Legba is represented by the Virgin Mary, known as Goddess of love. St. John the Baptist is considered Zaka the God of agriculture. Then there is St. Patrick known as Da Ayido the Primordial serpent.

RITUALS/CERMONIES: All religions have some form of ceremonies; Voodoo as well as Santeria both has rituals/ceremonies celebrating births, marriages, and seasonal days.
In Voodoo, “The purpose of rituals is to make contact with a spirit, to gain favor by offering them animal sacrifices and gifts, to obtain help in the form of more abundant food, higher standard of living and improved health.” Voodoo priests, houngan for male, and mambo for female lead these ceremonies, in front of an altar of pictures of Christian saints and candles, there is dancing, singing, chanting, playing of the drum and eating (Robison, 2007)
Male priests are called Santeros and female Santeras who lead the Santeria ceremony. “Santeria rituals allow human beings to stay in contact with the Orisha these rituals include dancing, drumming, speaking and eating with the spirits. Santeria has few buildings devoted to the faith. Rituals often take place in halls rented for the purpose, or privately in Santeria homes which are may be fitted with altars for ritual purposes. During appropriate rituals the Orishas are able to meet believers at these sacred spaces.” (Rituals and Customs, 2009)
Because of these ceremonies/rituals Voodoo and Santeria has been linked to “Black Magic” as well as witches and witchcraft. Many believe that the rituals are used to harm or hurt people. But have been stated by members that the animals that are scarified are then later use in communal meals by the practitioners much different from those in the slaughterhouses. (Hoerrner) Sacrifices are considered highly important in all religion from Christianity to Wiccan. With both Voodoo and Santeria, members believe that through sacrifice they are able to shift cosmic energy to their advantage, either spiritual or physical.

HOODOO: When one hears about Voodoo they tend to automatically think of Hoodoo. “Hoodoo and Voodoo are often mistaken for one another, but although some believe that the terms may have a common etymology, the latter probably did not influence the former to any great degree. Hoodoo is not a religion -- that is, it is spiritual and magical in nature, but it does not have an established theology, clergy, laity, or order of liturgical services. The goal of hoodoo is to allow people access to supernatural forces to improve their daily lives by gaining power in many areas of life, including gambling, love, and divination, cursing one's enemies, treatment of disease, employment, and necromancy. As in many other folk religious, magical, and medical practices, extensive use is made of herbs, minerals, parts of animals' bodies, an individual's possessions, and bodily fluids, especially menstrual blood, urine and semen. Contact with ancestors or other spirits of the dead is an important practice within the conjure tradition, and the recitation of Psalms from the Bible is also considered magically effective in hoodoo. Due to hoodoo's great emphasis on an individual's magical power, its basic principles of working are easily adapted for use based on one's desires, inclination and habits.” (Hoodoo)
CONCLUSION: Voodoo and Santeria are two religions that are very similar from their origins straight through to their rituals/ceremonies. During the days of slavery, those that practice these religions, more than likely felt that this was the only thing from their homeland and had to try to hold on to. This explains why they hide it so well, in the Christian religion that was being forced on them.

Works Cited
Santeria. (2005-2006). Retrieved from www.santeriareligion101.com.
Rituals and Customs. (2009, Septemember 15). Retrieved 2011, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/santeria/ritesrituals/rituals.shtml.
Louisiana Voodoo. (2011, November 09). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/windex.php?title=Louisiana_Voodoo&oldid=458448796.
Santeria. (2011, Noember). Retrieved from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Santeria.
Hoerrner, M. (n.d.). Voodoo Likely the First African-American Religion in America. Retrieved Nov 14, 2011, from buzzle.com.
Hoodoo. (n.d.). Retrieved Novemember 18, 2011, from http://www.monstropedia.org/index.php?title=Hoodoo.
Robison, B. (2007). Religions of the world. Retrieved from www.religioustolerance.org/voodoo.htm.

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