▷ Umbanda《What is it for, Symbol, Who Founded it and More》

Last Update: May 6, 2021

In the world there are many religions that are scattered and vary depending on any part of the world in which you find yourself, and it is not for less that with so many different cultures, there are multiple beliefs that differ from each other.

Many times these religions are made up of a combination of different religions and cultures and that is the case of the umbanda. If you don’t know her, keep reading this article to find out more.

What is Umbanda?

This is an eclectic religion, that is, it is composed of many different elements of different religions taking part in the Afro-Catholic while continuing to worship their oldest ancestors. Through dances and songs in Portuguese, it is possible to invoke the entities of the cult.

arises as the rejection of Native Americansspecifically the Caboclos, and the elderly descendants of slaves known as Pretos and Velhos.

It usually has followers or is made up of believers of other religions, such as Christians, Jews and Hindus despite disagreeing about many things about said religious practice. This is nourished by Christianity to refer to gods, that is, it takes into account Jesus Christ as sent by God.

Who founded it?

Previously, the spirits that were invoked came from cultured and enlightened peoplethat is to say, from the high society of that moment, but everything changed with the young Zelio Fernandino de Moraes.

This was a young man between the ages of 17 and 18 who was possessed by caboclo Siete Encrucijadas, also known as seven crossroads. This made he announced that a religion directed to the humble. It is said that it was a manifestation of the spirit for Charity.

From that moment, syncretism and three (3) cultures were present as Catholicism, African cults and spiritualism were part of this religion and everything early 20th century.

There are three (3) forces in this religion for the umbandistas that are:

Where did religion come from?

This religion was founded on November 15, 1908 in the Niteroi city located in Rio de Janeiro as a consequence of the cults brought by the slaves who arrived en masse from Africa and did not want to abandon their native traditions.

In turn, many of the slaves that arrived in Brazil came from Nigeria and they brought religions with them like the Yoruba accompanied by their orishas.

Over time, these beliefs brought from Africa made contact with the Christianity of the time, indigenous cults and the branch of spiritualism that was influenced by the doctrine of the Frenchman Allan Kardec who was known as Kardecism and was elitist for the time.

What is religion used for?

The main characteristic of this religion and for which it is highly criticized because it uses elements that are taken as heresy by the Catholic Church, that is, black magic and spiritualism.

The main purpose of this religion is to be able connect humans with other worlds through black magic, since they are distant and incomprehensible and is done through the use of talismans, potions and sacred objects that allow connection with the afterlife.

With Umbanda we seek to make a differentiation from other African practicessince the indirect relationship with the African orixás is sought.

Why do they sacrifice animals?

The sacrifices are made to return or return a spiritual force and this is possible with natural offerings because they are charged with the same energy and wisdom. It should be noted that, when using animals, they don’t suffer in the process and if so, it is cancelled.

are also used vegetables and fruitsin addition to the animal blood that he obtains by beheading and killing them and due to their load, it is a moment in which their energy circulates.

As I mentioned before, this is for recover the energy and after this we proceed to eat the animals. What is offered is the head in front of the altar and then this can be buried in nature or it can be cooked by the members.

What is the symbol of Umbanda?

When the cults are carried out to honor the spirits and divinities, they have not only African origins, but Hindus and Arabs as I mentioned at the beginning, since only one God is present who, in this case, is known as Oxalá or Zambi.

The symbols of this religion are called as striped points, that is, graphics that are responsible for assist entities to provide identification and avoid the manifestation of another spirit that deceives other participants.

They have the function of serving as a kind of energy store to bring medicines, fluids and to be able to evoke the entities that are going to work in the ceremony.

As you can see, it is quite an interesting religion that through syncretism he managed to adapt and give a different meaning and a religion to the humblest at the beginning of the 20th century. If you have thought of being part of it, I hope that with this article you can learn much more about it.