{"id":74878,"date":"2016-09-13T06:25:13","date_gmt":"2016-09-13T10:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oncubamagazine.com\/?p=74878"},"modified":"2016-09-12T15:19:43","modified_gmt":"2016-09-12T19:19:43","slug":"the-orishas-returned-to-the-street-in-regla","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/economy\/entrepreneurship-in-cuba\/the-orishas-returned-to-the-street-in-regla\/","title":{"rendered":"The Orishas Returned to the Street in Regla"},"content":{"rendered":"

The town of Regla is blue, the same blue as that of the sea and of Yemay\u00e1. Everything got to it through the sea: the first slaves and Santeria. \u201cNow they have forbidden walking the virgin around here,\u201d says Moraima, sitting on a wall by the bay, \u201cbut that is what she is asking for. That she is taken through the sea and that a basketful of fruit be given to her so that this town follows the path it needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s how it was before, every September 7 and 8 during the procession of Our Lady of Regla and the Cabildo (African ethnic association in colonial Cuba). But fruits are no longer offered to her, everything has disappeared, the fruits and the Cabildo; although the latter has appeared again 55 years after its last exhibition.<\/p>\n

According to Angelito, one of the island\u2019s most respected Obba Oriat\u00e9, in that last Cabildo held in 1961 the images had to enter before because of an incoming storm. Since then the town of Regla has never again been able to stroll its orishas (Santeria deities) to the rhythm of the bat\u00e1 drums, but this September 9 Saint Barbara and Our Ladies of Mercy, Charity and Regla were again out in the street.<\/p>\n

\"Angelito,<\/a>
Angelito, one of the island\u2019s most respected Obba Oriat\u00e9. Photo: Yaniel Tolentino.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Osh\u00fan goes in front and Yemay\u00e1 behind; between them Obbatal\u00e1 and Shang\u00f3, moving the believers in white and red. The chant to Eleggua, which is a greeting, starts the procession and from then on everything is dancing and conga nonstop. Or yes, the drum players stop twice, in Mart\u00ed and Calixto Garc\u00eda streets, to drink water. The neighbors rapidly take out their bottles full of water, they relieve their fatigue and the drum players are ready to continue.<\/p>\n