San?Te?r??a [Santa r? ?, s?NT r? ?]
or San?te?r??a [Santa r? ?, s?NT r? ?]
noun
religion combining Yoruba religion and Catholicism: a religion that combines the West African Yoruba religion with Roman Catholicism.
The religion recognizes a supreme God as well as other spirits. Originally developed in Cuba by West African slaves, it is now practiced in the Caribbean and the United States.
Santeria and Voodoo are both examples of what are described as "African Traditional Religions". They can trace their roots to the native religions practiced in the area of Africa where the majority of slaves brought to Haiti were taken from. In many ways Santeria can be described as pancreatic in that practitioners "adopted" the names of Roman Catholic saints who were "patron saints" of various things that equated to Gods/Spirits in their original religions as a cover for their practices which were forbidden by the slave-owners.
The religion is safe to practice, just as ANY religion is safe to practice. Santeria, as well as Voudon (Voodoo), has unfortunately gotten a bad name due to Hollywood hype.....
I would recommend you check out a site for a Voodoo shop in New Orleans that has a section on their page for books on the subject that you can then either purchase directly from them or find locally to you for more information.
Santeria is a mix of Catholicism and certain Prue-Colombian Pagan beliefs, and they do practice witchcraft. I know many people who believe firmly in it without practicing any witchcraft themselves. Even good Catholics in Mexico believe that spells may be cast on people, to help or harm them. I've even been to a church where the Catholic priests are only allowed in once per year to baptize children. The rest of the time the church is run by witch doctors who practice Santeria.
The moral of the story is never anger a woman from Oaxaca (just kidding).
Is Santeria the same as witchcraft or is a religion? Is it a belief?
