In January we celebrate the Orishas Eleguá and Ozain together with their syncretism

January is an auspicious month for celebrations of great faith dedicated to extremely powerful Orishas, highly respected within the Yoruba belief.

We entertain them in keeping with their Catholic syncretism and the cults join in immense celebrations filled with displays of devotion and love.

Eleguá and Ozain Day arrives in Santeria in January

Now let's learn more about these powerful and ancient Yoruba orishas.

Orisha	Power in the Pantheon	Celebration day	Syncretism
Elegua	Owner of the roads and the 4 corners	January 6	Holy Child of Atocha
osain	Lord of the mountains and nature	January 17	San Antonio Abad

We celebrate Eleguá the prince de la Ocha on January 6

We celebrate the little prince Eleguá, the first protection of each devotee, together with one of his Catholic syncretisms, the Santo Niño de Atocha.

When the African slaves arrived in America they tried at all costs to maintain their customs, beliefs and religions, and they had no other way than to unite their faith and their gods to the Saints of their masters, for this reason, currently in Santeria they are celebrated together, under a single faith.

The Holy Child of Atocha It is a Catholic representation of the Child Jesus, very popular and venerated in the pre-Hispanic cultures of Spain, Mexico, the Philippines and the southwestern United States, especially New Mexico. In Cuba, it is also much loved for its miracles.

Characteristics and powers of Eleguá in Santeria:

For the Yoruba, Eleguá is the one who opens the way to continue in religion, a fearsome and fierce warrior when he joins Oggún and Oshosi, to protect those who begin the spiritual path.

In the Rule of Osha or Santeria, he is the first Orisha received, as it is said that with Olofi, Obbatalá and Orula he won enough privileges to always be the first.

That is why it is located behind the door, to be the first to be greeted by visitors and from that privileged position, to protect the home and family.

To the absolute owner of the roads and destiny, Eleguá and the miraculous Niño de Atocha, we entertain them from their facets as naughty and intrepid children.

So we can give them treats and toys, flowers and vekas by holding celebrations in which the little ones and colors predominate, and of course, raising our prayers of thanks and faith to them.

We share some prayers to the holy orisha:

When lighting a candle to Eleguá make this powerful prayer and pray with faith (click on the blue link to see)
Prayer to the Miraculous Child of Atocha to ask you for a special favor

We entertained Ozain, owner of the mountain, on January 17

To Ozain del Monte, a powerful connoisseur of herbs and the secrets of vegetation in the Yoruba PantheonWe celebrate it on January 17 in syncretism with San Antonio Abad.

The holy Abbot was a Christian monk, founder of the hermitic movement, who is known to have abandoned his property to lead a hermit existence and thus know all the teachings of God.

In Santeria Ozain governs nature and it is said that he is nature itself, and also lives isolated within the natural world, perhaps this is the quality that unites both deities.