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San Lazaro and Babalu-Aye
In Cuba and its diaspora, pilgrims honour St Lazarus, who is also Babalu-Aye, the orisha of disease and healing, on 17 December.
About San Lazaro and Babalu-Aye
On 17 December, thousands of Cubans walk to the sanctuary of San Lazaro at El Rincon, outside Havana, many on their knees or dragging weights, to fulfil a promise made for a recovery. In Santeria, San Lazaro is identified with the orisha Babalu-Aye, who is associated with illness and healing, and is shown as an old man with crutches, accompanied by dogs. Devotees offer purple cloth, sweet things and coins, and there is also a major celebration in Miami and other diaspora centres. The saint and the orisha are not the same in origin, but the identification dates from the days when enslaved Africans were forced to take Catholic forms, and it has remained part of the practice. The pilgrimage is a serious religious act for those who undertake it.
Entries tied to it
Also part of it, and being written: Babalú-Ayé (The orisha.), Saint Lazarus (The saint with whom he is identified.).
Written by the EveryJaadu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Babalú-Ayé" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family, and are described as belief and practice. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Santería: Jorge Royan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source