Happy New Year
everyone!
On New Year’s Eve, we
were fortunate enough to see some pagan rituals of a tradition that is very much
alive. We went to Brazil and witnessed rituals in honour of Iemanjá, a Sea
Goddess that is also seen as the Goddess of the New Year.
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| Fig. 1. From left to right: Pai João (a Preto Velho), Iemanjá and a "figa" (fig sign) |
This Orixá
(or Deity) has Her origins in West Africa, but is now also venerated on the other side of
the Atlantic. Many African slaves kept worshipping the Gods of their homelands and
passed down the religious rites to the next generations. [I]
These West African
rites were mixed with elements of Catholicism and indigenous American elements resulting
in the modern-day religions of Umbanda and Candomblé [II] that
attract followers from all races and backgrounds [see video].
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| Fig. 2. Holiday decoration in a pousada in Paraty, Brazil (figurine of Iemanjá in blue on the mantelpiece). |
In Brazil, Alongside
Christmas trees and Santa Claus, one can often see blue and white
Iemanjá-themed decoration in the hot summer month of December (Fig. 2.) and on New Year’s Eve, many people dress in
white (or blue) and go down to the beach for the countdown and the ensuing
party.
When we were there, we saw shallow holes dug by celbrants
all over the beach, with candles, flowers, incense sticks etc. in them. It truly was an enchanting sight.
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| Fig. 3. Votive pit with candles and petals for Iemanjá on a beach in Boiçucanga, Brazil. |
Regardless of their religion,
many people throw a white rose (or a similar offering) in the sea for
Iemanjá and then jump over seven waves, quietly making a wish for the coming year every
time they jump a wave.
Iemanjá is one of the
7 main Orixás, but there are many more interesting divinities, spirits and
symbols in Brazilian folklore. I particularly like the
Pretos Velhos or “Old Blacks” which are seen as wise, benevolent spirits that
were African slaves
during their lifetime. [III]
One example of such a
Preto Velho is Pai João or “Father John” [IV] who is typically depicted seated, smoking a
pipe.(Fig. 1.)
Sources:[I] Boyce Davies, Carole
(2008) Encyclopedia of the African Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Culture.
A-C. Volume 1, Volume 2. ABC-CLIO: p257.[II] Jenkins, Willis J. et al.
(2016) Routledge Handbook of Religion and Ecology. Routledge: p193.[III] Anthony Appiah, Kwame & Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
(2005) Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American
Experience. Oxford University Press: p584.[IV] Molina, N.A. (2015) Livro de Feitiços
de Preto Velho. Livropostal: p16.]
