Magic in Latin America and the Caribbean
Vodou, Santeria, Candombl茅 and Obeah, curanderismo and brujeria, Andean offerings to the earth, and Amazonian plant healing. 145 entries on EveryJaadu so far.
Places of magic
Bois Ca茂man 2Chilo茅 archipelago 2La Paz 2Port-au-Prince 2Quicav铆 2Recife 2Rio de Janeiro 2Alto de Pinheiros 1Antigua Guatemala 1Ara莽oiaba da Serra 1Araucan铆a 1Aux Cayes 1Bel茅m 1Belmont 1Boa Sorte 1Calama 1Cerro Azul 1Chilo茅 1Colonia Merced Balbuena 1Company Villages 1Corrientes 1Cuero 1Cueva de Quicav铆 1El Cibao 1Greater Buenos Aires 1Guanarito Municipality 1Guant谩namo 1Guatemala City 1Huautla de Jim茅nez 1Jacmel 1
Rites of the region
Limpia with an eggDay of the Dead ofrendaSanteria initiation (kariocha)Candombl茅 ebo offeringHaitian Vodou serviceAndean despacho and pago a la PachamamaA curanderismo healing sessionAyahuasca ceremonyObeah in Jamaica
Countries
馃嚘馃嚞 Antigua and Barbuda 2馃嚘馃嚪 Argentina 25馃嚙馃嚫 Bahamas 5馃嚙馃嚙 Barbados 7馃嚙馃嚳 Belize 4馃嚙馃嚧 Bolivia 16馃嚙馃嚪 Brazil 67馃嚚馃嚤 Chile 27馃嚚馃嚧 Colombia 13馃嚚馃嚪 Costa Rica 3馃嚚馃嚭 Cuba 23馃嚛馃嚥 Dominica 11馃嚛馃嚧 Dominican Republic 9馃嚜馃嚚 Ecuador 8馃嚫馃嚮 El Salvador 4馃嚞馃嚛 Grenada 1馃嚞馃嚬 Guatemala 18馃嚞馃嚲 Guyana 10馃嚟馃嚬 Haiti 47馃嚟馃嚦 Honduras 4馃嚡馃嚥 Jamaica 17馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico 63馃嚦馃嚠 Nicaragua 2馃嚨馃嚘 Panama 3馃嚨馃嚲 Paraguay 10馃嚨馃嚜 Peru 27馃嚨馃嚪 Puerto Rico 5馃嚢馃嚦 Saint Kitts and Nevis 1馃嚤馃嚚 Saint Lucia 3馃嚮馃嚚 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1馃嚫馃嚪 Suriname 8馃嚬馃嚬 Trinidad and Tobago 14馃嚭馃嚲 Uruguay 7馃嚮馃嚜 Venezuela 11
PurposeProtectionHealingSeeing and foretellingLuck and prosperityLove and attractionCursing and harmCleansing and purificationSpeaking with spirits and the deadChange and initiationBinding and oathsPower and authorityWonder and entertainment
WhoShamansFolk healersPriests and ritual specialistsWitches, sorcerers and cunning folkDiviners and readersMediums and the possessedCeremonial magicians and alchemistsHouseholds and ordinary peopleStage magiciansScholars and sceptics
BeliefHindu and TantricBuddhistJainMuslim and SufiJewishChristianSikhZoroastrianShinto and TaoistIndigenous and shamanicAfrican and Afro-diasporicPagan and NeopaganEsoteric and occultFolk and village customSecular and stageOther traditions
馃嚘馃嚪 Argentina and 2 moreSan La Muerte
A skeletal folk saint venerated in South America for protection and favorsTradition 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚬馃嚬 Trinidad and Tobago and 3 moreCaribbean folklore
The blended tales and spirits of the Caribbean islandsTradition 路 Wonder and entertainment Living
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 5 moreWitchcraft in Latin AmericaBrujer铆a
A syncretic blend of Indigenous, African, and European magical practices across Latin AmericaTradition 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚙馃嚪 Brazil and 5 moreSanto Daime
A Brazilian syncretic religion using ayahuasca for spiritual work and healingTradition 路 Healing 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Living
馃嚥馃嚱 MexicoCalavera
A sugar or clay skull used in Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations.Charm 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead 路 Luck and prosperity Living
馃嚘馃嚪 Argentina and 5 moreGauchito Gil
A folk saint from Argentina who protects the poor and outcastsBeing 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚙馃嚪 Brazil and 1 moreQuimbanda
An Afro-Brazilian religion focused on male and female street spirits for worldly mattersTradition 路 Protection 路 Luck and prosperity Living
馃嚨馃嚜 PeruVegetalismo
A mestizo healing tradition in the Peruvian Amazon that draws power from plants and spirits.Tradition 路 Healing 路 Protection Living
馃嚭馃嚫 United States and 5 moreFlorida Water
A citrus perfume used in spiritual cleansing and folk healing across the Americas.Substance 路 Protection 路 Cleansing and purification Living
馃嚝馃嚪 France and 5 moreKardecist SpiritismSpiritisme
A French spiritualist doctrine based on communication with spirits and reincarnation.Tradition 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead 路 Protection Living
馃嚨馃嚜 Peru and 5 morePalo Santo
Aromatic wood used in South American ritual cleansing and folk medicineSubstance 路 Cleansing and purification 路 Healing Living
馃嚙馃嚡 Benin and 2 morePapa Legba
A loa who stands at the crossroads and opens the gate between people and spiritsBeing 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead 路 Power and authority Living
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 3 moreCurandero
A folk healer in Latin America and the United States who blends indigenous and Catholic traditions.Tradition 路 Healing 路 Protection Living
馃嚚馃嚧 Colombia and 1 moreTunda
A shapeshifting entity from the Pacific coast of Colombia and Ecuador that lures people into the forest.Figure 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 2 moreAlebrije
Brightly painted Mexican sculptures of fantastical creatures, made from paper or woodTradition 路 Protection 路 Wonder and entertainment Living
馃嚞馃嚬 GuatemalaMaxim贸nRi Laj Mam
A Maya folk saint and trickster deity venerated in the Guatemalan HighlandsBeing 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚚馃嚤 Chile and 1 moreMachi
Mapuche spiritual authorities and healers who bridge herbal knowledge and spirit realmsTradition 路 Healing 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Living
馃嚙馃嚪 BrazilBoitat谩
A fiery serpent of Brazilian folklore that guards forests or frightens childrenBeing 路 Protection 路 Cursing and harm Living
馃嚥馃嚱 MexicoOfrenda
A Mexican home altar built to welcome the souls of the dead during D铆a de los MuertosTradition 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Living
馃嚚馃嚧 ColombiaColombian folklore
Beliefs and legends passed down through generations in ColombiaTradition 路 Wonder and entertainment Living
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 5 moreSanta MuerteNuestra Se帽ora de la Santa Muerte
A female skeletal folk saint in Mexico and the Americas, worshipped for protection, healing, and safe passage.Tradition 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 5 moreFolk Catholicism
Local religious customs that blend official Church teaching with indigenous or regional traditions.Tradition 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚚馃嚤 ChileChilean mythology
The myths and legends of Chile, blending indigenous roots with colonial influences.Tradition 路 Wonder and entertainment Living
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 5 morePersonifications of death
Figures from many cultures that embody the end of life and guide soulsFigure 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Living
馃嚙馃嚪 Brazil and 1 moreSaciSaci-perer锚
A one-legged prankster of Brazilian folklore who hides in dust devils and wears a magic red cap.Figure 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Cursing and harm Living
馃嚬馃嚬 Trinidad and Tobago and 5 moreSoucouyant
A shape-shifting vampire spirit of Caribbean folklore that sheds its skin to fly as a fireballBeing 路 Cursing and harm Living
馃嚡馃嚥 Jamaica and 2 moreKromanti
A ritual language spoken by ancestral spirits in Jamaican Maroon ceremoniesBelief 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Living
馃嚙馃嚪 BrazilThe Hairy LegPerna cabeluda
A Brazilian urban legend of a detached leg that attacks people at nightFigure 路 Cursing and harm 路 Wonder and entertainment Historical
馃嚙馃嚪 BrazilPro-VidaPr贸-Vida, Integra莽茫o C贸smica
An occultist group founded in Brazil that promises cosmic consciousness and earthly paradise.Tradition 路 Change and initiation 路 Power and authority Living
馃嚡馃嚥 Jamaica and 3 moreDuppy
A Caribbean term for a ghost or malevolent spirit, rooted in West African folklore.Being 路 Cursing and harm 路 Luck and prosperity Living
馃嚡馃嚥 Jamaica and 1 moreNine-Night
A nine-day Caribbean wake rooted in Akan tradition to celebrate the deceased and guide their spirit home.Rite 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Living
馃嚬馃嚬 Trinidad and Tobago and 2 moreMama D'Leau
A river spirit of the Caribbean islands who protects aquatic life and heals people.Being 路 Healing 路 Protection Legendary
馃嚚馃嚧 Colombia and 1 moreLa Bolefuego
A fiery apparition from the Llanos that hunts travelers and avoids prayer.Figure 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚬馃嚬 Trinidad and Tobago and 1 moreDouen
A faceless creature with backwards feet from Trinidad and Tobago folkloreBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚟馃嚬 HaitiHaitian CarnivalKanaval
A major Caribbean festival of music, dance, and satire leading to Mardi Gras in HaitiTradition 路 Wonder and entertainment 路 Luck and prosperity Living
馃嚫馃嚮 El SalvadorChasca
A spirit of the water in Salvadoran folklore who blesses respectful fishermenFigure 路 Protection 路 Luck and prosperity Living
馃嚙馃嚪 BrazilLobisomem
A South American shape-shifter born from family fate or sin, often linked to the full moon.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚚馃嚤 ChileCamahueto
A one-horned river bull from Chilote folklore that drags people to the seaBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚮馃嚜 VenezuelaDjucu
A warm sea nut used as a lucky charm in the CaribbeanCharm 路 Luck and prosperity Living
馃嚙馃嚪 BrazilRom茫ozinho
A cursed immortal boy from Brazilian folklore who never grows and causes mischief.Figure 路 Cursing and harm 路 Wonder and entertainment Legendary
馃嚞馃嚬 Guatemala and 1 moreEl Sombrer贸n
A tall, hat-wearing figure from Guatemalan legend who courts young women and haunts neighborhoods at dusk.Figure 路 Love and attraction 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚥馃嚱 MexicoMercado de Sonora
A Mexico City market known for herbal medicine and occult goodsTradition 路 Protection 路 Love and attraction Living
馃嚡馃嚥 Jamaica and 4 moreJumbee
A shadowy spirit of the dead in Caribbean folklore, often linked to evil deeds.Belief 路 Cursing and harm Living
馃嚟馃嚬 HaitiF猫y
A Haitian Vodou folk song used as a political anthem during military ruleTradition 路 Power and authority Living
馃嚙馃嚪 BrazilBestial beastBesta-fera
A centaur-like creature in Brazilian folklore thought to be the Devil.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Folk healer: calliopejen, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- European witchcraft: Unknown author, CC BY 4.0, source
- Kardecist Spiritism: Coprosme, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Alebrije: Luisalvaz, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Maxim贸n: Sapfan (Jan Pesula), Public domain, source
- Folk saint: Sergio Serrano, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Machi: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Boitat谩: The ponta cabe莽a, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ofrenda: Eneas de Troya, CC BY 2.0, source
- Colombian folklore: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Santa Muerte: Not home, Public domain, source
- Folk Catholicism: Calvin Hennick, for WBUR Boston, CC BY 3.0, source
- Personifications of death: No machine-readable author provided. Kirtap assumed (based on copyrigh, CC BY 2.5, source
- Camahueto: Rjcastillo, CC BY 4.0, source
- Haitian Carnival: User:Doron, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Palo Santo: Haplochromis, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Florida Water: Unknown artist(s), Public domain, source
- Calavera: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Santo Daime: Tonelada, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- The Hairy Leg: Di贸genes Montenegro, Public domain, source
- Mercado de Sonora: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Caribbean folklore: Biblioteca Juvenil Mayaguez ( talk 路 contribs ), CC BY-SA 4.0, source