YEMEYA
Originating in the Yoruba religion of Western Africa, the African Goddess Yemaya has become the great Ocean Mother Goddess of Santeria in South America and in the Caribbean as well. Yemaya is Mother Ocean, but she also represents the great maternal force of life and creation.
Yemaya, also known as Yemanja, Yemoja, or Iemanjá, is a prominent deity in African and Afro-American religious traditions. Her worship spread widely due to the transatlantic slave trade, and she is revered in the Yoruba religion of West Africa, as well as in its diasporic offshoots like Santería (Cuba), Candomblé (Brazil), and Vodou (Haiti). In the Yoruba religion, Yemaya is one of the Orishas, deities that govern various aspects of the world and human life. She is the goddess of the Ogun River in Nigeria, which is associated with life and fertility. Her name is derived from "Yeyé omo eja," which means "Mother whose children are the fish," highlighting her her association with water.
Yemaya is often called the mother of all Orishas and She is believed to protect women and is often invoked during childbirth and for the well-being of families. As a water deity, Yemaya is associated with the sea, rivers, and all bodies of water. She is often depicted as a mermaid or a regal woman emerging from the ocean, symbolizing her dominion over the waters. Her connection to the ocean also symbolizes the source of life, for life began in the ocean.
In Santería, Yemaya is syncretized with the Catholic Virgin Mary, particularly Our Lady of Regla, a protector of sailors. Her feast day is celebrated on September 7th. Devotees honor her with offerings of fruits, flowers, and blue and white beads, which are her sacred colors. In Candomblé religion, Yemaya is also revered as a powerful mother goddess, and her worship includes elaborate ceremonies with drumming, dancing, and offerings. She is celebrated during the festival of Iemanjá on December 31st, where offerings are sent out to sea. In Haitian Vodou, Yemaya is known as La Sirène or Mami Wata and is associated with the loa (spirit) of the waters. Her worship includes similar themes of fertility, protection, and the sea.
Yemaya is often represented by objects related to the sea, such as shells, fish, and water. She is depicted wearing blue and white garments, symbolizing the ocean and waves. Fish, particularly those that are considered nurturing or protective, are sacred to Yemaya. Dolphins and whales are also associated with her due to their roles as oceanic guardians. Common offerings to Yemaya include watermelon, molasses, flowers, and candles. These offerings are often placed by the water's edge or sent out to sea in small boats or baskets. Devotees sing songs and recite prayers to Yemaya, asking for her blessings and protection.
Originating in the Yoruba religion of Western Africa, the African Goddess Yemaya has become the great Ocean Mother Goddess of Santeria in South America and in the Caribbean as well. Yemaya is Mother Ocean, but she also represents the great maternal force of life and creation.
Yemaya, also known as Yemanja, Yemoja, or Iemanjá, is a prominent deity in African and Afro-American religious traditions. Her worship spread widely due to the transatlantic slave trade, and she is revered in the Yoruba religion of West Africa, as well as in its diasporic offshoots like Santería (Cuba), Candomblé (Brazil), and Vodou (Haiti). In the Yoruba religion, Yemaya is one of the Orishas, deities that govern various aspects of the world and human life. She is the goddess of the Ogun River in Nigeria, which is associated with life and fertility. Her name is derived from "Yeyé omo eja," which means "Mother whose children are the fish," highlighting her her association with water.
Yemaya is often called the mother of all Orishas and She is believed to protect women and is often invoked during childbirth and for the well-being of families. As a water deity, Yemaya is associated with the sea, rivers, and all bodies of water. She is often depicted as a mermaid or a regal woman emerging from the ocean, symbolizing her dominion over the waters. Her connection to the ocean also symbolizes the source of life, for life began in the ocean.
In Santería, Yemaya is syncretized with the Catholic Virgin Mary, particularly Our Lady of Regla, a protector of sailors. Her feast day is celebrated on September 7th. Devotees honor her with offerings of fruits, flowers, and blue and white beads, which are her sacred colors. In Candomblé religion, Yemaya is also revered as a powerful mother goddess, and her worship includes elaborate ceremonies with drumming, dancing, and offerings. She is celebrated during the festival of Iemanjá on December 31st, where offerings are sent out to sea. In Haitian Vodou, Yemaya is known as La Sirène or Mami Wata and is associated with the loa (spirit) of the waters. Her worship includes similar themes of fertility, protection, and the sea.
Yemaya is often represented by objects related to the sea, such as shells, fish, and water. She is depicted wearing blue and white garments, symbolizing the ocean and waves. Fish, particularly those that are considered nurturing or protective, are sacred to Yemaya. Dolphins and whales are also associated with her due to their roles as oceanic guardians. Common offerings to Yemaya include watermelon, molasses, flowers, and candles. These offerings are often placed by the water's edge or sent out to sea in small boats or baskets. Devotees sing songs and recite prayers to Yemaya, asking for her blessings and protection.