Santeria

[El Presidente]

 

I was asked yesterday if I had experienced Santeria in Cuba. While I have met a few serious Santeria practioners, those in my circle are generally younger who (if at all) flow/blend Santeria practices/visuals with a little Catholicism and general Cuban pragmatism. 

This is a 5 minute intro that doesn't begin to scratch the surface. 

 

 

[Ken Gargett]

friend of mine in cuba explained a lot of it to me some years back. she didn't follow at all but her grandmother was a true believer. fascinating to see all the various idols for the saints all set out in her house and what had to be done. my experience was that those who don't believe were very tolerant of those who did (might have been a foot in both camps thing). there was a very useful book written about it some years back. i'll have to try and dig it out to find the name/author, which might take some days. 

[BrightonCorgi]

My old Puerto Rican girlfriend's family was into Santeria.

[Rushman]

So not sure. On my first trip to Cuba circa 2011 or so my wife and I were in a pedal cab - super touristy I know and not my normal m.o. but she wanted to show me old Havana. We stopped at a very dilapidated building with some driving music more than audible. The guy doing the pedaling suggested me go in. We walked up 3 flights of stairs - maybe 75% of the stairs were able to be stepped on. We walked into an apartment full of maybe 30 people all dancing to this music - grinding to it really. I was eyes wide open while my wife was trying to get me to dance so I wasn’t so conspicuous…as if I wasn’t already. So I did. We hung out for a bit then left. Not sure if they were practicing or practitioners or what but it was something I have never seen or seen since.


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[El Presidente]

4 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

friend of mine in cuba explained a lot of it to me some years back. she didn't follow at all but her grandmother was a true believer. f

...you honestly had some weird girlfriends 

[Ken Gargett]

2 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

...you honestly had some weird girlfriends 

if only that was a comment which could be limited to Cuba.