![]() ![]() ![]() The song made famous by Desi Arnaz – and the reason for this blog’s name – is actually a tribute to San Lazaro, Babalu Aye. El Santuario Nacional de San Lázaro is one of the most visited temples of worship for the Cuban people. And to be completely honest, sometimes I really do feel like someone’s watching over me and protecting me. Gracias, Primo. I am not an overtly religious person but one of the two items of jewelry I wear – the other being my wedding ring – is a gold medallion of the image above that my grandfather gave me before he passed away. Come midnight they ask for San Lazaro to watch over them and keep them and their families safe and healthy. They get together and light candles and make offerings to Babalu Aye and wait for him to arrive at midnight. Many Cubans hold a vigil starting the night of December 16th. ![]() ![]() He is offered white wine, popcorn, sesame seed candy, and a variety of grains, beans, and seeds. Though originally associated with smallpox, many of today’s worshippers appeal to Babalu Aye for healing from HIV/AIDs. Lazarus, who is commonly referred to as the father of the world.īabaluAye is the Orisha who governs epidemics and heals infectious diseases. Today, December 17th, is Babalu Aye day in the Afro-Cuban religion. His feast is celebrated on 28 June for the Serbian Orthodox Church. In their eyes is a genuine gaze of appreciation, praise, and admiration for San Lázaro - a connection challenging to explain but completely perceivable.Today, December 17th, is El Día de San Lázaro, the day of Saint Lazarus.īack on December 17, 2004, Val Prieto wrote this: Many devotees arrive at the altar, light a candle, and begin to pray. Little statuettes of the saint are everywhere - they’re brought in boxes, in people’s hands, and placed on the floor surrounded by bills and coins. Other details in plain sight are the presence of the color purple - found on candles, clothing, and merchandise - and people wearing jute sack attire, two important elements pertaining to Lazarus. Babalu-Aye is equated with Lazarus, a Biblical beggar man mentioned in one of Jesuss parables. As a practice passed down from their ancestors, followers tend to believe that suffering and punishment equate to payment or offering to the saint for their requests. Visitors leave quite an impression, as many are seen walking on their knees all the way to the altar, others chain themselves to large stones which they drag to the temple, and mothers crawl on their hands and knees with children on their backs. This particular artifact uses Saint Lazarus to depict the Santería/Ochá oricha Babalú Ayé, who is associated with disease and sickness. Cubans from every province converge at this far-off temple to ask for help and give offerings to the saint - and every 17th of December - the town of El Rincon is flooded with believers for the Day of San Lázaro. The Santuario Nacional de San Lázaro receives plenty of visitors all year round, but come December, that number increases exponentially. ![]()
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