Who is Saint John in Umbanda? Discover syncretism with the orixá Xangô!

Religions of African origin have a syncretism with others, such as Catholicism, where orixás and saints are compared for their characteristics and ways of acting. For umbanda, São João is seen as Xangô. His power is manifested in the quarry and he is known as the Lord of Justice.

Due to the characteristics of São João and Xangô, they are seen as equals by umbanda. The orixá is linked to balance and nature, in addition to being considered the god of fire, thunder and lightning. Saint John was responsible for the baptism of Jesus, and due to this act in consideration of the purification of fresh waters, he became linked to Xangô, due to his connection with nature. See more below!

The syncretism of Xangô and São João can be understood in different ways, due to the acts and connections that both have with nature and fire, for example. Xangô is considered to have the power of fire and through this element he manages to destroy everything that is bad and transform it into something good, as in an act of purification.

Catholicism, on the other hand, over a certain period began to encourage the faithful to light bonfires that would be directed to honor certain saints, such as Saint John. The bonfires that are traditionally lit in June are seen with the same purpose as Xangô, to transform bad into good. Read more!

Religious syncretism can be seen as a practice of religions with the aim of favoring a fusion between others, such as the connection between the orixás of Umbanda and Candomblé, which are linked to the saints of Catholicism.

There is also the possibility of seeing syncretism as a fusion between religions to create a new doctrine. However, the most common thing to be observed, in fact, is the comparison between practices and elements that can be noticed in both fused religions.

Syncretism is a more common practice in Brazil, which became increasingly widespread in the face of historical issues, arising from the colonization periods responsible for the formation of the Brazilian people.

Thus, syncretism aims to merge different doctrines by finding similarities between the elements and practices adopted in each of them. This is a complex process in the history of Brazil, because with colonization, people with different doctrines began to spread their practices and associate the elements contained in each one of them.

There are several religious syncretisms in Brazil, which emerged in the period of colonization where several peoples ended up being united. The most common mergers to be highlighted are the Christian and African ones, but it is also necessary to emphasize the mergers of indigenous and Christian beliefs, which also occurred in these periods.

Other mergers such as indigenous-African and indigenous-Christian-African also have records. There is no actual chronological order for the events, but through religious practices and celebrations it is possible to notice the connection between these matrices.

Saint John the Baptist is a saint of the Catholic Church who can be highlighted for several accomplishments in his life. The story from the saint’s birth to the moment he served his cousin Jesus is full of important details and fascinating stories.

Therefore, it is important to know more deeply the history of this saint, to understand why he is so important for the Catholic Church and also at what points he is linked to other religions and practices and the reasons why this is noticed. Read more below.

The story of Saint John the Baptist begins with the friendship between Saint Elizabeth, his mother, and Mary, mother of Jesus. Great friends, Isabel shared with Maria the revelation that she would have a child and she was interested in knowing how she would receive the information about the child’s birth.

The two then agreed that a bonfire would be lit so that Maria would receive the birth information from afar. On June 24, Isabela fulfilled her promise and, in view of the birth of John the Baptist, lit the fire to warn Mary.

Saint John the Baptist is seen with simple and dark clothes, always connected to some element that is part of nature. Another detail in the images seen of this saint is that he is always carrying a cross with him. In addition to his red mantle, which is part of the symbolism of this saint.

In the images, São João is always seen with his hand raised and this act represents the preaching done by him on the banks of the Jordan River. In his left hand, the saint carries a shell, which symbolizes his mission as a baptizer.

For religious people, St. John the Baptist primarily represents the announcement of the birth of Jesus Christ. This, because he is the forerunner of Jesus, responsible for communicating to everyone that the Savior would be arriving to save humanity.

Another important point about this saint is that he is considered to be the last of the prophets, as he prepared all the way for the arrival of the Lord Savior, preaching through the deserts and dragging crowds around him with the sole objective of transmitting to all the power of his preaching.

Devotion to Saint John the Baptist is something very old for the faithful of the Catholic Church. But over the centuries this became even greater, as this saint was solidified before the faithful, as it was understood that Saint John the Baptist was the path of Jesus Christ, who came to Earth with a unique mission to announce the arrival of the Messiah.

Over the years, Catholics began to treat this saint with even more devotion and this can be seen in the festivities in June that commemorate the passage of Saint John the Baptist on Earth.

Xangô is one of the most powerful orixás worshiped in Umbanda and Candomblé in Brazil, among other religions of African origin around the world. He represents justice and is seen as a virile, aggressive and manly orixá by his actions. In some cases, he is also seen as violent, but fair.

The history of Xangô is full of riches and details that highlight this orixá as being very seductive, beautiful and that rarely any woman could resist his charms, and it is not by chance that he was disputed by three of the most powerful orixás. Read below some details about Xangô!

The story of Xangô highlights the fact that he is the son of Bayani and the husband of Iansã, known as the Goddess of the Winds. One of the greatest certainties that surrounds the life of Xangô is that this orixá was born to reign and the legends point precisely to this, since he has always shown himself to have a sense of justice.

Throughout his life, Xangô was always attentive to his people and in moments of sadness and desolation, he played his role as the god of justice and fought the enemies of his people with determination and strength.

Xangô’s visual characteristics show him as an orixá who dresses in red and white, which are his colors. Another detail about this orisha is that he always carries his ax with him, which he uses to impose himself and demand justice for his people.

For being very vain, Xangô always walked neat and even braided his hair, according to the story of this orixá. Xangô’s vanity can even be noticed in his actions and those of his children, who are influenced by these characteristics.

The day to celebrate Xangô is September 30, considered a moment of celebration in religions of African origin, such as Candomblé and Umbanda. In terreiros, the orixá can be commemorated in various ways, with offerings, prayers, dances and moments dedicated solely to celebrating its existence.

The colors that are related to Xangô, such as red, are meant to symbolize the fact that this is an orixá closely linked to the element of fire. It can be seen through several distinct qualities and each of them has a specific detail or directed action.

Xangô has a very close relationship with several other orixás. One of his main connections is with Obá, whom he married. The story of these two orixás shows that Xangô’s wife was so devoted to him that she was capable of doing anything for her husband.

Not only her, but also Oxum and Iansã, other wives of Xangô who were capable of doing everything necessary for him, including a dispute between the three for the love of this powerful orixá.

The syncretism between São João Batista and Xangô can be noticed due to some aspects and characteristics shown by both. The main point to be highlighted is regarding the ability that both have to purify with their powers and actions.

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