Santeria, A syncretistic Caribbean religion

Terminology;
Number & locations of followers

Sponsored link.

Terminology:

"The name by which the religion is now most commonly known, 'Santeria,' is a pejorative term first applied by the Spanish to the religious practices of the peasantry. It was used as a derogatory reference to the unusual amount of devotion and attention paid to the Catholic Saints, often in preference to Jesus Christ. This term was again used in Cuba to identify the 'pagan' religion. The Yoruba devotion to the Orishas, who were often referred to as 'santos' ('saints') by both slave and slave-owners, was mistakenly seen as the 'fanatical' worship of demigods and the neglect of 'God.' Therefore, the opprobrious and demeaning term 'Santeria' was extended to the religious practices of the so-called 'savages.' Only in recent years, after having the label applied by outsiders for an extended period of time, has the term begun to be used by members of the religion." ₂

Location and numbers of followers of Santeria:

Santeria is currently concentrated within:

It had been actively suppressed in Cuba since the communist revolution - particularly during the 1960's. However, oppression has now largely ended, and the popularity and practice of Santeria exploded in Cuba during the 1990's.

References used:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. From "Santeria Religion 101," at: http://www.santeriareligion101.com/
2. An unmoderated forum, alt.religion.orisha discusses of African-based and derived belief systems throughout the African Diaspora. This includes: Candomble, Fon, Hoodoo, Palo, Santeria, Yoruba Orisha and Voudun (Voodoo). Some of the topics include: recent books, scholarly articles and tapes, ethnography, information on acquisition and use of herbs in ritual practice, ritual music, instruments and dance, divination systems, the changing role of traditional practice in modern times, the law and repression of ritual practices.
3. "Santeria," Adherents.com, at: http://www.adherents.com/
4. J.E. Holloway, "Africanisms in America: Blacks in the Diaspora," Indiana University, (Reprinted 1991), Page 122. Read reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store. Cited in "Exploring the Culture of Little Havana," at:  http://www.education.miami.edu/
5. "Religious Movements" at: http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia quote a Santeria reference Egbe Lukumi, http://www.egbelukumi.org/ as saying that "It is estimated that the number of practitioners of Lukumi Orisha Worship in the United States surpasses five million."
6. "American Religious Identification Survey," by The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, at: http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_studies/aris.pdf This is a PDF file. You may require software to read it. Software can be obtained free from: