Each santo controls different parts of nature, such as thunder, storms, the sea, the woods and the rivers. At the same time they also control human qualities, such as love, intelligence and drunkenness. All people have two santos as their protectors, whether you are a devotee or not, and regardless of where you live in the world. Perhaps you'll find "your" santos?
Elegguá - santo of gates
Elegguá is the smallest of the santos, but also one of the most important. In every ritual or feast you start by saluting Elegguá and ask him permission to start the feast. He is furthermore one of los guerreros (the warriors) who also include the santo of metal, Oggún, the santo of hunting, Ochosi, and the protector Osun. These are the four first santos you will receive on your way into Santería.
Natural elements and dwelling place
Elegguá rules over crossroads and doors. He protects your home and you will therefore find him pictured in the form of a small stone figure within the doors of a believer.
Personality traits
He is the messenger between Olofi and the santos, and also between santos and humans. Elegguá is the one who opens and shuts opportunities for both people and Gods. In this way he gives people opportunities, but can also see to it that they do not get the opportunities they are hoping for. Elegguá is in other words both loved and feared, but above all greatly respected.
Catholic saint and day of celebration
The Catholic saint Niño de Atocha (the child from Atocha) is associated with Elegguá. Both Eleggúa and Niño de Atocha are considered to be small children and this is undoubtedly the reason why just this saint was chosen as a disguise for Elegguá. The childlike side of Elegguá can be seen during possessions when he will play and fool around, in addition to being particularly fond of sweets and toys. Elegguá is celebrated on the first day of the year, when all opportunities lie open before you.
Food/offerings
Nothing could be better than giving Elegguá a few sweets. But despite his childlike sides, he will not refuse a good cigar or a little sugar liquor, not to mention a little fresh blood from a cock.
Personality traits of initiates of Elegguá
Elegguá's sons and daughters are playful like him. They are often fond of playing tricks on people, but can also be serious.
Usual restrictions for initiates of Elegguá
Initiates of Elegguá are often banned from crossroads as these are difficult places and there may be danger afoot.
Colour
Elegguá is one of the few santos who has black as his colour. Black is rarely seen in Santería; you should for example not wear black if you are to attend a ritual or feast. Red is also Ellegúa's colour. His necklace is therefore made up of alternatively red and black beads.
Obbatalá - santo of peace and intelligence
Obbatalá assisted Olofi in creating both the earth and Man. He therefore has a high position in the santo hierarchy.
Natural elements
Obbatalá is considered the santo of peace and purity.
Personality traits
He is also the santo for intelligence and justice and great drinkers. That he is associated with people who take a couple of drinks too many is due to a story from the time when Olofi was going to create the world and asked Obbatalá for help. Obbatalá would have liked to help, but helped himself too much from a bottle of palm wine and fell asleep at his work. Therefore he was not allowed to take part in the whole of creation, only parts of it.
Catholic saint and day of celebration
Nuestra Señora de Mercedes (Our Lady of Mercedes) in white costume is the Catholic saint associated with Obbatalá. Both are celebrated on 24 September.
Dwelling place
Obbatalá lives in the mountains near heaven, and in the home of his believers he lives in a white tureen on the top of the altar.
Food/offerings
White is Obbatalá's colour and therefore both coconut, meringues and eggs are considered foods you can sacrifice to the santo of peace. When it comes to animal sacrifices, he prefers white doves and white hens.
Personality traits of initiates of Obbatalá
"There can be no doubt that I am the daughter of Obbatalá, considering I am so intelligent", said the santera Ana. In addition to being intelligent, the sons and daughters of this santo are often considered to be calm and sober-minded, but it is also said that they are fond of drinking at parties.
Usual restrictions for initiates of Obbatalá
As with other santos, an Obbatalá-initiate should not eat the food sacrificed to this santo. Therefore everything containing coconut is particularly banned from the menu.
Colour
White for peace and quiet is Obbatalá's colour, something which is reflected in the white tureen and the necklace composed of only white beads.
Yemayá - santo of the sea
Yemayá is one of the most powerful santos in Cuba through her connection with the sea surrounding the island. In addition she is considered to be the mother of both santos and Man.
Natural elements
She rules over the sea and all seawater in the world.
Personality traits
Yemayá is considered to be strict, but just.
Catholic saint and day of celebration
As all other santos, Yemayá is also associated with a Catholic saint. As santo of the sea, she is linked to the patron saint of the port of Havana, the Virgen de la Regla. Both are celebrated on 7 September.
Dwelling place
As santo of the sea, Yemayá lives in the sea. In the devotees' homes she lives in a blue tureen on their altar.
Food/offerings
Yemayá's favourite dish is pork crackling and desserts made from coconut and sweet potatoes.
Personality traits of initiates of Yemayá
Yemayá's children are calm and harmonious. They have a motherly nature. At times they may be stubborn and their punishment is tough but fair. They can also be considered as arrogant and serious.
Usual restrictions for initiates of Yemayá
Most initiates of Yemayá are banned from travelling on the sea. The reason is that the santo of the sea is so fond of her children that she would like to draw them down into the deep with her. Her sons and daughters therefore always keep to the shallow parts of the beaches and avoid swimming pools and the ferry across the port of Havana. The problem many have is that the Church of Virgen de la Regla, also the church associated with Yemayá, lies across the harbour basin of Havana. On the ferry crossing over to the church, you will therefore often see people throwing a little offering to Yemayá in the form of money into the water so that they will be spared. Or they take the bus round the bay, a trip that takes at least four times as long as the ferry trip.
Colour
Yemayá's colour is as blue as the sea and her necklace consists of a series of seven blue and seven crystal pearls.
Changó - santo of war and thunder
Changó is one of the most popular santos in Cuba. He is the very symbol of what a Cuban male would like to be. He is strong, dances wildly and passionately and knows the art of captivating women. Changó is furthermore fond of telling stories, though they will often surpass reality.
Natural elements
Changó owes part of his strength to the fact that he is the guardian of thunder and lightning. His power is often symbolised by a sword and an axe. The axe is also found in Nigeria, but the sword comes from the Catholic saint of Santa Barbara.
Personality traits
Changó is not only the santo of natural elements such as thunder and lightning, but also of human qualities such as strength and sensual appeal. He is also considered the divinity of dancing and music.
Catholic saint and day of celebration
It may seem strange that Changó is linked to a female Catholic saint, Santa Barbara, as he is the very manifestation of manly qualities. The explanation may lie in one of the old stories about Changó, in which he had to dress up as a woman to flee from an enemy that wanted to kill him. Both are celebrated on 4 December.
Dwelling place
It is said that Changó lives in the royal palm, which is also Cuba's national tree. In the devotee's home he lives in a wooden receptacle called batea, which is placed with the tureens on the altar.
Food/offerings
Changó's favourite dishes are cooked ocra, goat, cock and green bananas. In addition he enjoys a cigar and a little rum.
Personality traits of initiates of Changó
As their father Changó, his devotees are considered to be both strong and wild. Like him they are fond of dancing and flirting, and tend to exaggerate when telling stories.
Usual restrictions for initiates of Changó
If you are initiated to Changó, you should stay away from foods that are red, as these are things you can sacrifice to Changó when life is difficult. You are also often warned against big crowds where you might get yourself into trouble.
Colour
Changó's colour is red. The necklaces people wear when they seek his protection or wish to show they are a son or daughter of only this strong divinity, have alternating red and white beads.
Ochún - santo of love and beauty
In the same way as Changó is often characterised as a model for many Cuban men, many Cuban women would like to be just as beautiful and seductive as Ochún.
Natural elements
Ochún rules over rivers and lakes.
Personality traits
She is considered the santo of beauty and vanity, and therefore loves standing in front of a mirror. Ochún is also the santo of female sensuality and love and, perhaps most important, of fertility.
Catholic saint and day of celebration
Ochún's status in Cuba is also reflected in the Catholic saint she is associated with, namely Caridad de Cobre, who is Cuba's own patron saint. She is celebrated on 12 September.
Dwelling place
As ruler of fresh water and rivers, this is also where she lives. In her followers' homes you will find her in a yellow tureen on the altar.
Food/offerings
The food Ochún prefers is as sweet and seductive as she is. She loves honey and yellow cakes, eggs and pumpkins which all symbolise women's belly and therefore also fertility. With regard to drinks, she prefers champagne, but will also drink both beer and brown rum. The sunflower is no doubt the flower most often sold by Havana's florists. If you have problems with your sweetheart or want one, it will often help to sacrifice a sunflower to Ochún.
Personality traits of initiates of Ochún
As their mother, the initiates of Ochún are both social, fond of parties, sensual and flirtatious. "That girl must be a daughter of Ochún, the way she is flirting!" Children of Ochún are fond of jewellery and can easily be considered vain. You will often find them looking into a mirror.
Colour
Ochún's colour is yellow like the sunflower many Cubans offer her in the name of love. Her necklace is made up of a series of six light yellow and six dark yellow beads.
Oyá - santo of graveyard gates
Many consider Oyá as Changó's match when it comes to strength and temper, and in the myths the two are often out at war together.
Natural elements
Oyá rules over the storms and the rough weather which often hit Cuba. She takes care of all graveyard gates and makes sure the dead stay where they are meant to. In addition, she has a brighter side as the santo in charge of the rainbow and all its beautiful colours.
Personality traits
This santo of storms is not only responsible for weather changes, but also for the changing moods of most people.
Catholic saint and day of celebration
Oyá is associated with the Catholic saint Santa Teresa. Oyá is celebrated on 15 October.
Dwelling place
As responsible for graveyard gates, that is where she will be most of the time, unless she is out flying with the storms. At home among her followers, on the other hand, she lives in a tureen painted in all the colours of the rainbow.
Food/offerings
Oyá wants aubergines from her devotees and is fond of colourful materials and silk ribbons.
Personality traits of initiates of Oyá
The sons and daughters of Oyá are known for changing moods as abruptly as their mother and the stormy weather she dominates. They are often powerful and may seem to be violent. At the same time you will never find anyone as loyal and as jealous as Oyá's children.
Usual restrictions for initiates of Oyá
Initiates of Oyá should avoid eating aubergines, which should be saved for the day when you really need her help. Moreover, you should watch out for churchyards, as the dead may come down on you.
Colour
Though her colours are those of the rainbow, her necklace consists of a series of nine brown and nine wine-coloured pearls, the latter with white and black stripes.
Babalú Ayé - santo of diseases
Babalú Ayé is a highly respected santo. His great importance in Cuba is due to his close connection with health and disease and thereby with the idea that Santería will help you keep in good health. However, not many are initiated to this santo.
Natural elements
Babalú Ayé is the santo of all insects in the world. He is also the santo of diseases. Earlier he was particularly linked to leprosy, venereal diseases and skin problems. Today he is also associated with AIDS.
Catholic saint and day of celebration
In the same way as Babalú Ayé is an important santo in Santería, the Catholic saint San Lázaro is one of the most important saints in Cuban society because of his connection with health and disease. Every 17 December devotees of both Santería and Catholicism flock to San Lázaro's church in Rincón outside Havana to pray to both San Lázaro and Babalú Ayé for good health and miracles. People crawl on their knees or creep along the ground, and sacrifice money, bread, candles and flowers in the church.
Dwelling place
You will find Babalú Ayé everywhere in the streets. In people's homes he lives in a ceramic bowl decorated with feathers and herbs, often placed a little apart.
Food/offerings
Babalú Ayé eats popcorn and old, dry bread. He smokes cigars and drinks dry wine and he likes to be decorated with special medical herbs.
Colour
Babalú Ayé's necklace has white beads with pale blue stripes
Orula - santo of divinations
Orula is the santo of divinations and the santo of the babalawos and the divination system Ifá which they belong to. Only babalawos are considered as the sons of Orula, and only men can become babalawos. Orula never comes to earth through possessions, but communicates through the babalawos and their divination instruments.
Catholic saint and day of celebration
The santo of divinations, Orula, is associated with the Catholic saint of Francis of Assisi. They are celebrated on 4 October.
Dwelling place
You can find Orula in the homes of the babalawos in a wooded receptacle, apart from the other saints.
Food/offerings
Orulo likes fine desserts, roast beef, lobster and shrimps.
Usual restrictions for babalawos
Nobody is initiated in the normal way to Orula. Only men that become babalawos can be said to belong to the santo Orulo, and thus have to respect some restrictions in this connection. The babalawos can neither eat lobster nor shrimps, as this is food they can sacrifice to Orula if they need help. Nor can they eat the heads of fish, fowl or animals.
Colour
Orula's colours are green and yellow, and his necklace is made up of alternating green and yellow beads.
Oggún - santo of metals
Oggún, together with the santos Elegguá, Ochosi and Osun are warriors, and the first four santos you receive on your initiation into Santería.
Natural elements
Oggún is considered the santo for all types of metal.
Personality traits
Oggún is also the santo of work. As santo of metals, he is the guardian of the surgeon's knife. Most Cubans therefore pray to Oggún before they undergo an operation.
Catholic saint
San Pedro is the Catholic saint connected with Oggún.
Dwelling place
Oggún lives in the forests and next to railway lines. In the devotee's home you will find him on the floor, next to the three other warriors, Elegguá, Ochosi and Osun. He lives there in an iron cauldron filled with metal objects such as knives, manacles, bits of rails, and a surgeon's knife, in addition to a number of wooden pegs.
Food/offerings
Oggún prefers forest rat or blood from other animals, in addition to sugar liquor, when he needs to eat and drink.
Personality traits of initiates of Oggún
Oggún's sons and daughters are considered to be very industrious, but also wild since they are easily provoked by trifles.
Colour
Oggún's necklace consists of alternatively black and green beads.
Ochosi - santo of hunting
Ochosi, together with the santos Elegguá, Oggún and Osun are the warriors of Santería and the first four santos you receive upon initiation.
Natural elements and human qualities
Ochosi is the santo of hunting, as well as law, justice and prisons.
Catholic saint
San Norberto is the Catholic saint associated with Ochosi and they are both celebrated on 6 June.
Dwelling place
Ochosi lives in the forest. In the homes of the devoted you will find him on the floor in a ceramic bowl together with Elegguá, Oggún and Osun.
Food/offerings
Ochosi prefers the animals you can hunt, in addition to the sweet honey of the bees.
Personality traits of initiates of Ochosi
People initiated to Ochosi are considered to be hospitable, attentive, quick in action and fond of change.
Colour
Ochosi's necklace is made up of yellow and blue beads.