1. History of Santerí
In every great society there is a burial ritual, or a "death culture-. Some cultures are simple and some are grand and elaborate. The Hopewell Indian culture of North America is no different, and their burial rituals involved the construction of large earthen mounds to contain the dead and their g...
Rites of Passage A rite of passage, whether defined as a "ritualistic procedure" (Webster's) or as a "ceremony" (Random House), represents a change of status of an individual in his/her society. Rites of passage are generally thought to ensure smooth and successful life transitions and/or changes of status. All cultures have rites of passage; however, these rites vary greatly between the different cultures. In this essay, many cultures" rites of passage will be described, but first, I shall begin by discussing what we are most familiar with: American rites of passage. Although Am...
CUBAN SANTERIA Santeria, which literally means, way of the saints', originated in Cuba. Santeria is considered an Afro-Cuban religion. It has roots in Africa, specifically the Yoruba people in southwestern Nigeria. When Africans were brought to the New World as slaves, they brought with the...