Santeria

Brought from Africa during the slave trade and frowned upon for years by the revolutionary government, Santeria began to emerge from behind closed doors during the 1990s and be practiced openly. Santeria is a syncretic religion that combines African deities and rituals with Catholic iconography and is practiced in 'temple homes', rather than designated religious sites. One of the tenets of the religion is that ' there is no dignity in being poor'. Santeria gained popularity during the crisis of the 1990s and continues to grow today. The religion was adopted by many to improve their economic and social position, believing that if you follow the specific recommendations of the guardian deities, paths to prosperity will follow.