Candomblé is an Afro-American religion practiced chiefly in Brazil but also in adjacent countries. The religion came from Africa to Brazil, carried by African priests and adherents who were brought as slaves between 1549 and 1888. The name Batuque is also used, especially before the 19th century when Candomblé became more common. Both words are believed to derive from a Bantu-family language. Although originally confined to the slave population, banned by the Catholic church, and even criminalized by some govern ...

Including:

• Candomblé - Nations
• Candomblé - Beliefs
• Candomblé - Syncretism
• Candomblé - Rituals
• Candomblé - Temples and priesthood
• Candomblé - Books

Read more here: » Candomblé: Encyclopedia - Candomblé

Candomblé temples are called houses (casas), plantations (roças), or yards (terreiros). Most Candomblé houses are small, independently owned and managed by the respective higher priests (father- or mother-of-saint). A few of the older and larger houses have a more institutional character and more formal hierarchy. There is no central administration. Candomblé priesthood is organized into symbolic families, whose members are not necessarily relatives in the common sense. Each fami ...

See also:

Candomblé, Candomblé - Nations, Candomblé - Beliefs, Candomblé - Syncretism, Candomblé - Rituals, Candomblé - Temples and priesthood, Candomblé - Books

Read more here: » Candomblé: Encyclopedia II - Candomblé - Temples and priesthood

Brazilian slaves came from a number of ethnic groups, including Yoruba, Ewe, Fon, and Bantu. Slave handlers classified them by the shore of embarkment, so the relation to their actual ethnicity may be accurate or not. As the religion developed semi-independently in different regions of the country, among different ethnic groups, it evolved into several "sects" or nations (nações), distinguished chiefly by the set of worshipped deities, as well as the m ...

See also:

Candomblé, Candomblé - Nations, Candomblé - Beliefs, Candomblé - Syncretism, Candomblé - Rituals, Candomblé - Temples and priesthood, Candomblé - Books

Read more here: » Candomblé: Encyclopedia II - Candomblé - Nations

The candomblé ritual (toque) has two parts: the preparation, attended only by priests and initiates, which may start a week in advance; and a festive public "mass" and banquet that starts in the late evening and ends around midnight. In the first part, initiates and aides wash and iron the costumes for the ceremony, and decorate the house with paper flags and festoons, in the colors favored by the Orixas that are to be honored on that occasion. They also prepare food for the banquet. Some domestic animals are slaughtere ...

See also:

Candomblé, Candomblé - Nations, Candomblé - Beliefs, Candomblé - Syncretism, Candomblé - Rituals, Candomblé - Temples and priesthood, Candomblé - Books

Read more here: » Candomblé: Encyclopedia II - Candomblé - Rituals

Candomblé is a spiritualist religion and worships a number of gods or spirits, derived from African deities: the Orishas of Yoruba mythology (Ketu nation), spelled Orixás in Portuguese; the Voduns of the Ewe and Fon (Jejé nation); and the Inkices (Minkisi) of the Bantu (Angola nation). These spirits were created by a supreme God: the Olorun (Olorum) of the Yoruba, Zambi or Zambiapo ...

See also:

Candomblé, Candomblé - Nations, Candomblé - Beliefs, Candomblé - Syncretism, Candomblé - Rituals, Candomblé - Temples and priesthood, Candomblé - Books

Read more here: » Candomblé: Encyclopedia II - Candomblé - Beliefs

Over the centuries Candomblé has incorporated many elements from Christianity. Crucifixes are sometimes displayed in candomblé temples, and the African deities were often identified with specific Catholic saints. This syncretism was in part a reaction to Church-inspired persecution by authorities and slave owners, who viewed Candomblé as paganism and witchcraft. Indeed, there are reports of Christian devotional altars being used in early slave houses to hide African cult icons and ritual objects. Even after the end of slavery, the claim t ...

See also:

Candomblé, Candomblé - Nations, Candomblé - Beliefs, Candomblé - Syncretism, Candomblé - Rituals, Candomblé - Temples and priesthood, Candomblé - Books

Read more here: » Candomblé: Encyclopedia II - Candomblé - Syncretism