Santería
The Cuban religion of Yoruba orisha and Catholic saints, called Regla de Ocha or Lucumí by many of its priests.
Also: santeria, regla de ocha, lucumí, lukumi, santero
Santería is the name used for the Afro-Cuban religion that grew from the beliefs of enslaved Yoruba people in Cuba, who identified their orisha with Catholic saints, so that Changó appears as Santa Bárbara and Oshún as the Virgin of Charity. Many practitioners prefer Regla de Ocha, rule of the orisha, or Lucumí, and some see Santería as a dismissive term. A priest or priestess is a santero or santera; the babalawo serves a separate priesthood that performs Ifá divination. Initiation is long, takes place in a house led by an elder, and includes the receiving of an orisha. Animal offerings are part of the religion. In 1993 the United States Supreme Court, in Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. Hialeah, protected them as religious practice.