How is Lent in Umbanda? Understand why terreiros close!

Lent is a period of 40 days, being a period of seclusion, spiritual strengthening, prayer and penance. Many Umbanda practitioners were once Catholics and still follow religious practices, such as, for example, following Lent rituals and end up moving away from the terreiro during this period.

Although many terreiros still close during this period, Lent is a religious practice of the Catholic Church and not Umbanda. The terreiros that do not close some keep their work normally, others work only with spiritual help for the needy. In this article, find out everything about Lent in Umbanda.

Umbanda is an Afro-Brazilian religion and was founded based on Candomblé, Spiritism and Christianity and values ​​the good and love of others, through charities and spiritual assistance. The places where the rituals are performed are: yards, houses, centers or outdoors. Rituals and tours vary according to the influence of the house and each one has an orixá that governs the house. Learn more below.

Umbanda originated through a fusion of candomblé, spiritism, based on principles of reincarnation and Christianity. Some consider it a Christian and monotheistic religion.

Although there is a great influence of Catholicism and many prayers are part of the terreiros, many cult rituals are of African origin and were practiced by former slaves and their descendants.

Umbanda is a Brazilian religion and was founded on November 15, 1908, in Rio de Janeiro by the medium Zélio Fernandino de Moraes, in a spiritist section where he incorporated Caboclo das Sete Encruzilhadas. It was through this spirit that the creation of umbanda was announced, based on values ​​such as love of neighbor and charity.

The religion has a strong foundation in Kardecism and has great influences from Catholicism and Candomblé. It has great leaders such as the spirits of Preto Velho and Caboclos. The best known orixás in umbanda are: Oxalá, Xangô, Iemanjá, Ogun, Oxóssi, Ogun, Oxum, Iansã, Omolu, Nanã. Other entities are also part of the tours, such as Caboclos, Petros Velhos and Baianos.

Umbanda has great influences and from different religions, the best known being:

– Catholicism: biblical readings, prayers, saints and commemorative dates;

– Spiritism: white table activity, knowledge of mediumship and energetic passes;

– Candomblé: representation, knowledge, festivals and clothing of the orixás, speeches and cults in Yoruba;

– Pajelança: line and knowledge of caboclos.

Although umbanda has these five main influences, each house or terreiro follows its line, so each one has its own different way of working and according to its influences.

Lent in Umbanda is a time of personal and spiritual preparation, due to it being a period of great spiritual instability, it is a period to reflect, evaluate your evolution, through prayers and unloading baths. As it is also a time to ask for protection from the spirits of light, consoling spirits and it is also a time to help those in need. Learn more below.

Lent is a Christian religious tradition, marked by a period of forty days leading up to Easter, being celebrated on Sunday. The forty days begin after Carnival, on Ash Wednesday, which is where the preparation for living the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ begins, as well as spiritual and personal preparation.

During this period Christians go through a moment of recollection and reflection for their spiritual conversion. They go through moments of prayer and penance and this time is marked to remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert and the suffering he endured.

Lent is one of the most important dates for Catholics, it is the preparation for Easter, that is, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It begins after Carnival, on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday. It is a moment of spiritual preparation, which requires penance and much reflection.

Lent in the Catholic Church is also marked by the period of fasting that Christians must practice, as well as confession and communion. During this period, charitable actions are also carried out on behalf of others. Prayer, meditation, retreats, fasting and charity are big milestones in Lent.

In church, the saints are covered with purple cloths, which is the color that represents this period of mourning, reflection, penance and spiritual conversion.

During this period, it is very common for people to say that “the witch is loose”, as if it were a time of hauntings, curses and lost souls. Inland, there are still many restrictions during Lent, especially during Holy Week, such as not being able to sweep the house, comb your hair, go fishing, play ball, etc.

For many people, the use of alcohol, cigarettes, that is, any type of addiction, is also prohibited, but as soon as the period of Lent ends, people already resume their activities, no longer respecting this moment of prayers and penance.

One of the factors that lead the terreiros to be closed during Lent is that many Umbanda goers are former Catholics, still follow the Catholic rituals and use this period to retire and perform their penances, not being available to perform the tours. and their work on the land.

Although there is a Catholic contribution in the terreiros with prayers, there is no connection with the saints and the orixás, but there is still pressure from the authorities and the Catholic Church itself, as it is a time of mourning and recollection.

Keeping the terreiros open during Lent is considered a lack of respect, for playing the drum and performing the tours normally, so they end up closing and not continuing with their services.

The period of Lent in Umbanda is still very much talked about as being a dangerous period, because there are many “kiumbas”, that is, obsessors that are loose and that can manifest themselves in those who are on the streets, so it is recommended to stay at home, protect yourself for not take any risk.

Many still believe this, but the Orishas have nothing to do with Lent, so you have to allow yourself, break those beliefs and keep your faith and heart open to spirituality.

“kiumbas” and “eguns”, are disembodied spirits that remain on earth, although they seem to have the same meaning, the degree of evolution of these spirits is different.

The “kiumbas” are spirits with low evolution, they are those who did not accept or at least are not aware of the reason for their disincarnation. They approach those with weak spirituality and also those with negative energies, inducing them to inappropriate desires and receive names such as: obsessors, backsliders and mockers.

The “eguns”, on the other hand, are spirits with a higher degree of evolution, they are good spirits and remain among us only in the period of transition to the spiritual world. The spiritual guides of the centers and terreiros are also considered as “eguns”.

Although some terreiros are still closed during Lent, others are breaking with this belief, maintaining their work and continuing with the cute ones. As in this period many evil works are done, the terreiros help with the Entities of Light.

Each terreiro works in a different way, some prefer to do only left-wing tours, others only work by helping those in need, with spiritual assistance, but there are also those who carry on with all the work normally, performing the tours and drumming.

The lines of work in Lent vary greatly according to each house or terreiro. Some choose to work only with spell breaking and spiritual assistance, others work with Exús and Pombagiras, others only with Pretos Velhos and Cablocos. Driving depends a lot on the line of each terreiro.

As some work only with spiritual guidance, it is valid to assess your need and seek the terreiro that best serves you. Whether it’s for spiritual evolution, breaking some kind of spell or participating in some tour.

In the past, there were many beliefs that became a problem and even something dangerous to attend an umbanda terreiro during Lent, but over the years these beliefs have been broken.

Today it is completely the opposite, as Lent begins right after Carnival, which is a period where many heavy and negative energies circulate and it is also a period where many negative magic is practiced, the terreiros remain open to help those in need, but many also continue with their normal schedule.

If you want to attend an umbanda terreiro during Lent, keep your faith, your positive thinking, be present and participate in the work without fear.