Preto Velho in Umbanda: performance, characteristics, offerings and more!

Preto Velho is one of the best-known entities in Umbanda and brings with it the representation of African ancestors, who are considered to be of great spiritual elevation. These entities receive the attribution of knowledge related to divine magic and also the manipulation of herbs used for various purposes within religions of African origin.

The image of Preto Velho also reflects characteristics such as humility, patience and wisdom. He is also known in various religions of African origin for his gift of offering love, hope and faith to those in need of shelter. See more about Preto Velho below!

Preto Velho, which can also be called Preto Veio within Umbanda, follows the line of regency of Obaluaiê and works performing passes of divine magic with the use of herbs, which are used in various bath recipes.

This entity’s line of action is linked to the mysteries brought by the image of an elder, which refers to wisdom and other aspects. Therefore, it also favors beings to go through their processes of spiritual evolution and follow their paths.

Preto Velho’s way of acting is to help in this process so that people can follow their spiritual paths with cleansing of the mind and spirit in search of peace, happiness and understanding. Learn more about this Umbanda entity!

Umbanda is divided in two ways, between right and left, which are called pillars. Like other entities, Preto Velho is on the right, along with Caboclos, Baianos and Sailors, for example.

On the right, however, is a pillar that will act with radiating factors. As Preto-Velho follows this line of action, some entities in this area act to absorb imbalances. Therefore, they bring improvements to the life of a distorted person or who goes through problems of this nature.

The line of souls is formed by spirits that have a deeper connection with the transition between life and death. Among their attributions and responsibilities, they need to guarantee balance and order between the material and spiritual planes.

There are, however, those who act in the light and those who are responsible for the darkness. In any case, they need to act together for the evolution of humanity and all beings that make up the world. Pretos Velhos are part of this action and are present in the material and spiritual world.

Obaluaiê is responsible for governing the lines of souls, where the Pretos Velhos are found, who act in the process of balance between the spiritual and material world. The strength of this orixá commands the journey of spirits towards the harvest of good and the encounter with the side of light.

No spirit can start its journey without authorization from Obaluaiê. Therefore, the Pretos Velhos will follow this regency and the determinations of the orixá to guide the spirits in the process of balance with their worldly and spiritual lives.

Pretos Velhos in Umbanda are represented by some particular characteristics, as well as other entities that have their specifications regarding appearance, clothes, the way of behaving and acting.

As it is a wise entity that assumes the posture of an elder, Pretos Velhos show themselves as elderly people, as their own name suggests, and have an appearance that reflects their struggles in life.

Some details about the entity directly reflect the qualities of the Pretos Velhos, which are of great value to Umbanda and other religions of African origin, as they represent knowledge. Read some more details about Pretos Velhos below!

Because it is an entity that is represented by an older person, Pretos Velhos have dark skin and are usually seen walking in an arched way, which reflects the fatigue and pain in the entity’s quotas.

Due to this characteristic, Pretos Velhos walk slowly and have a lot of patience to move in time, as well as many elderly people. The figure reflects all the weariness of an entity that has lived many years and accumulated experiences in life.

The figure of Preto Velho brings the simplicity of a person who has lived for many years and is able to understand much of life. The entity has a way of talking that takes a simple language, without refinements and elaborate words.

In general, it presents itself that way when appearing to people in Umbanda. During the tours, the Preto Velho usually appears talking and using the simplest terms possible, because as part of its qualities, the entity has a vibration that comes from very humble spirits, however much it has a vast knowledge.

Pretos Velhos are seen as entities of great wisdom. The representation shown of an older man who carries with him the knowledge of a lifetime reveals that this is an entity that holds a lot of knowledge.

Due to their vast knowledge, Pretos Velhos are the entities responsible for guiding people along the quest for balance between the earthly and spiritual world. Their souls are enriched with all the suffering they went through in life, which made them resistant and knowledgeable of the world.

A very strong image of Pretos Velhos is the one they appear sitting on their stools, smoking their pipes while uttering words of wisdom. With such vast knowledge about life, they are great advisors and impact figures.

In the terreiro, these entities are listened to attentively, as their advice is extremely important and very well directed. This is all because the guidelines coming from Pretos Velhos have a very great spiritual wisdom, which can favor the spiritual journey of people who listen to them and follow their advice.

In Umbanda, Preto Velho is a central image of an elder who holds knowledge and wisdom from a life of much suffering, which provided them with this type of mentality and vision. But there are several ways it can manifest, which take different names.

Pretos Velhos belong to the larger lineage of Obaluaiê, but they can also work in favor of other Orixás of Umbanda and other religions of African origin. In this way, in each line of action, the entity will receive a distinct name that matches the way it appears in the terreiro.

The names will depend on the regions where the Pretos Velhos came from. So, keep reading to know some of the names that the entity can receive.

In association with Oxalá, Preto Velho can be called Pai Joaquim de Aruanda, who is considered the one who came from heaven.

The term Aruanda that accompanies the name of this Preto Velho is due to his activity on the line of Oxalá and is the term that refers to the sky. These definitions, in addition to being related to Preto Velho’s line of action, also come from the characteristics of the corresponding Orixá.

The Pretos Velhos, when acting in the line of Oxóssi, will receive the name of Pai Antônio da Mata. This name is defined not only by the line of action, but also by the characteristics of these Pretos Velhos.

They receive a strong influence from Oxossi and its characteristics. Therefore, just like the Orisha of this line, these Pretos Velhos will have a much stronger connection with nature, as well as Oxóssi, who represents knowledge and forests, the latter making him known as the Orisha of hunting.

Due to the influence they receive from Omulú Obaluaê, the Pretos Velhos are given the name of Pai Joaquim das Almas, and may also be called Pai Francisco da Calunga, do Cemitério or also Pai das Almas.

Obaluaê refers to healing, because it protects health. Therefore, the Pretos Velhos governed by him receive this determination from the Souls, since they are responsible for guiding the spirits in the search for mental, physical and emotional balance throughout their journeys. That is why the Pretos Velhos who follow Obaluê’s line are considered that way in Umbanda.

The Pretos Velhos who are named after Pai Joaquim do Congo, or also Pai Francisco do Congo, are governed by the line of Iansã, who is a warrior goddess and known for being the lady of the winds, lightning and storms.

The name received by these Pretos Velhos is to specify that they follow the line of Iansã, who is responsible for commanding the dead spirits. She takes them through a ponytail, known as Eruexim, which was marked as one of the symbols of Iansã.

Ruled by Ogum, the Pretos Velhos who receive the name of Pai Francisco de D’Angola follow the line of action of this Orixá and are influenced by its main characteristics. Ogun is an entity known for its claw and courage. Its symbol is the sword.

Therefore, this line of Pretos Velhos will be guided by Ogun, who is the one who determines and applies the laws without any kind of flexibility. The determinations of this Orisha are all rigidly applied, taking into account that there is only one path to follow, which is the right one and determined by him.

It is important to know how to relate to Pretos Velhos, how to talk and how to act in the face of the appearance of this entity full of wisdom in a terreiro. There are some actions that must be done at these times in Umbanda.

Each entity has a specific color and also have their symbols and preferences for drinks, food and everything that can be offered through offerings. In addition, of course, to the specific days of each one.

Therefore, it is important to know more deeply about the details of Pretos Velhos to carry out the processes properly. It is worth mentioning that it is important to have the help of more experienced people at these times. Want to know more about the Preto Velhos? Continue reading below!

Pretos Velhos, like all other entities, have a specific day for them, which in Umbanda can be seen as a special day of tour in the terreiros and there can also be specific commemorations dedicated to these entities of great value for practitioners of the religion.

The day determined as the main commemoration of Pretos Velhos is May 13th. On the date in question, people usually gather in terreiros to commemorate the entities with their…