Articles about Umbanda

Oxum (Oshun) in Umbanda is the orixá of the waterfalls, celebrated on Saturdays, with a blue or yellow candle depending on the house. See the falange, who descends in the gira and what is requested.

Oxum sung chant calls and dismisses the waterfall line. See the lily in the house of Zélio and in Pai Maneco, the sung chants with author, the maleime and the ijexá of the chant.

Xangô (Shango) sung chant calls, firms and dismisses the quarry line. See the sung chants from the house of Zélio, the lily that turns into a book and the double-edged oxé in the ponto riscado.

Xangô in Umbanda rules the line of justice and of the quarries, with falanges such as Xangô Kaô and Sete Pedreiras. See who descends, the brown candle and the day: Wednesday.

Omolu in Umbanda, also called Obaluaê, has black and white colors, white and black candles, and Monday. See who descends in the gira and why it is not Exu (Eshu) Omulu.

Ogum (Ogun) in Umbanda rules the Saint George line and works through falanges such as Beira-Mar, Megê, and Ronda. See who descends in the gira, the red color, and the day: Tuesday.

Ogum's sung chant opens the gira, calls Megê and Beira Mar, and speaks of the sword and the flag. See the seven swords in four houses and the sword in Ogum's ponto riscado.

Oxóssi (Oshosi) in Umbanda rules the caboclo line, and for almost all houses, the one who descends in the gira is the caboclo. See color, Thursday, January 20, ponto and statue.

Cigana Esmeralda: in research, she is Pombagira Cigana. The name of Victor Hugo and the cordel, the legend of death, and what the houses offer to the ciganas, with source.

Romani bonfire: the Salamandra of the Romani tents, where the request candles turn into fire and the mediums dance. How houses do it and why at home the candle is worth it.

Romani table in Umbanda: fruits, sweet liqueurs, clove and cinnamon, honey, coins and candles, house by house. What does not go, what belongs to Pombagira and what to do after.

Iemanjá (Yemoja) in Umbanda almost never incorporates: who descends is the water people. See the line, the name Janaína, the greeting, the color and why the feast is on December 8.

Is Oxalá (Obatala) in Umbanda Jesus? See what FUCESP, NUSS and TUCTVC say and what research from UFMG and USP record about congá, color, day and the seven lines.

Preto Velho day is May 13, the date of the Lei Áurea. See where the November 20 proposal comes from, what the houses do on that day, and what day of the week it falls on.

Preto Velho names combine Pai, Vovó, or Tio, a saint's name, and a place. See what each part means, what research confirms, and what circulates without a source.

The sung chant (ponto cantado) of preto velho is the song of the gira, and the lyrics speak of captivity less than it seems. See what three studies found and who chooses what the house sings.

Is Preto Velho Exu? Generally no: Umbanda places them on opposite sides. However, some research describes the preto velho da mata, the cruzado, and the quimbandeiro in a few houses.

How to report religious intolerance: call 190 if the crime is happening, keep the evidence, file a police report, and use Disque 100, which accepts anonymous reports.

Caboclo das Sete Encruzilhadas is not Exu Sete Encruzilhadas: who is the spirit guide of Zélio de Moraes, where the name, the line, Malagrida, and Pai Antônio come from.

Umbanda Day is November 15, by Law 12.644 of 2012. See why the date was chosen, if it is a holiday, and how the terreiros celebrate the festival.

The Umbanda Hymn has lyrics by the Portuguese José Manoel Alves and became official at the 1961 congress. See the history, the legend of the blind author, and how the houses sing it.

Zélio de Moraes was the medium that tradition links to the foundation of Umbanda. See his life: family, pharmacy, councilman in São Gonçalo, the tents and the Cabana.

On All Souls' Day in Umbanda, some people go to the Cross of Souls (Cruzeiro das Almas) and honor Obaluaê. See the origin of the date, Quimbanda, Candomblé, and what to avoid on November 2nd.

The line of the souls is, in most houses, that of the pretos-velhos, greeted with Adorei as almas. See who works in it, who governs it, and why it moves from house to house.

The day of Cosme and Damião is September 27 in Brazil and 26 in the Church calendar since 1969. See what changed in 1969 and what is done on the day in each tradition.

Cosme and Damião sweets: why they are distributed on September 27, what is the difference between the little bag and the sweet from the santo's table, and when it is to be taken.

Names of erês follow a rule: in Candomblé they come from the head orixá, in Umbanda they are diminutives plus a place surname. See the names with field sources.

Preto velho bead necklace: who can use it without being from Umbanda, why it carries Our Lady's tear, the colors that change from house to house and what to do if it breaks.

The most registered precept in Umbanda is 24 hours before the gira, without meat, alcohol and sex. See what five houses request and why the rule changes.

Malandros in Umbanda: the line beyond Zé Pelintra, with Maria Navalha and other names, colors, clothing, drink, greeting, and the relationship with Exu and with the baianos.

What to ask the caboclo in the Umbanda gira: his field is herbs, cleansing, and path. See what to bring, how to speak to him, and what is never asked.

What preto velho likes to receive: coffee, rolled tobacco leaf, white and black candles, and flowers. See the day to bring it, where to leave the offering, and what not to offer to him.

Discover how to understand dreams in Umbanda, the warning signs from spirit guides, the process of astral projection during sleep, and what to do right after waking up.

First time in Umbanda: what to wear, what to bring, how the consultation line works, what not to ask the spirit, and how to know if the house is truly serious.

Baptism in Umbanda: what the ceremony is like, who can be baptized, what the godfather and godmother assume, what to bring on the day, and what changes from one house to another.

The bead necklace is the ritual necklace of Umbanda. See materials, firmness, why colors change from house to house, how to consecrate it, and what to do if it breaks.

Umbanda branca, omolokô, traçada, esotérica, and Almas and Angola: see what changes in each branch of Umbanda in the atabaque, on the left, and in the relationship with the orixá.

Sung chants in Umbanda: what they are, what they are for, the types (opening, calling, firmeza, ascent), and the difference from the ponto riscado inside the gira.

The cambone serves the spirit incorporated during the consultation. See what they do, what is prohibited, the ethics of secrecy, and why it is not the same as ekedi or ogã.

Mediumship development in Umbanda happens in the terreiro's corrente. See how to join, the phases of irradiation to firmeza, and how long it actually takes.

Curimba in Umbanda is who sings and plays in the gira. See the three atabaques, the rhythms, the types of sung chant (ponto cantado), who can be ogã and if a gira exists without drums.

Ponto riscado in Umbanda is the signature of the spirit. Understand the pemba, the colors, the families of symbols, how the ponto is settled and why it is not copied.

Romani spirits in Umbanda: the Romani people of the Eastern Line, where they stay in each house, the festival, colors, names and what is offered, with what the researchers recorded.

The sailors in Umbanda are the joyful spirit guides of the water people, linked to Iemanjá and Oxum. See who they are, how they work in the gira, greeting, day and offering.

Monday is the day of Exu, Tuesday of Ogum, Wednesday of Xangô and Iansã (Oya), Thursday of Oxóssi, Friday of Oxalá and Saturday of Iemanjá and Oxum. And Sunday varies according to the house.

Erês are the child spirits of Umbanda, the Ibejada. The day of the erês is September 27, and the festivities continue until October. See how they work and what to offer.

Boiadeiros in Umbanda: who are the cowboy guides of the sertão, what line they come from, the Getruá greeting, the colors, the offerings, and how they drive the herd in the gira.

Meet the Baianos in Umbanda: who are the spirits of the baiano line, their colors, how they work in the gira and the syncretism with the Senhor do Bonfim.

The 7 lines of Umbanda: what they are, the ruling orixá of each one, the difference between line and falange, and why each terreiro organizes it its own way.

Caboclos in Umbanda: who they are, which line they come from (Oxóssi and Ogum), how they work in the gira with healing and firmeza, the most common names and the Okê Caboclo greeting.

Zé Pelintra: who is the malandro spirit guide of Umbanda and master of Jurema, how he works, July 7 and why he is not of evil nor is he Exu.

Who are the pretos-velhos in Umbanda? Learn about their origin, symbols, spirits such as Pai Joaquim and Vovó Maria Conga, and the governance of the line of the souls.

Do you want to set up an Umbanda altar at home? See the 5 most common mistakes when setting up the congá and how to avoid them: location, statues, candles, water, and the right maintenance.

Cosme and Damião in Umbanda: understand who the Erês and Ibejis are, the syncretism with the twin saints, and how to set up the September 27 table step by step.

Understand what Umbanda is: the origin with Zélio de Moraes, the fundamentals, the seven lines, spirit guides such as caboclos and pretos-velhos and how a gira works.

Meet the main lineages of Umbanda spirit guides: Caboclos, pretos-velhos, Exus, Pombagiras, and Crianças, and understand the role of each in the rituals.

Umbanda and Candomblé are different religions, with their own origins, rituals and spirits. See the main differences and similarities between the two.