Twin Orixás of childhood and joy
Ibeji is the orixá (orisha) of twins and children, the force of childhood within the Afro-Brazilian pantheon. Unlike the deities linked to an element of nature, he guards a principle: purity, joy, and the magic of those who play. In Brazil, his feast is that of Cosme and Damião, with caruru and sweets for the children.
Greeting
Bejirô!
Colors
Pink and blue (some houses use the colors of Xangô (Shango) and Iansã (Oya))
Day of the week
Sunday (feast on September 27)
Element
No element of nature: Ibeji guards a principle, childhood
Syncretism
Saint Cosme and Saint Damião (September 27)
Archetype
The divine child: serious joy, linked to care
Domains of Ibeji
Childhood, twins, joy, purity, fertility and magic
Iansã gave birth to the twins, children of Xangô, but did not see herself as a mother of two children at the same time and left them by the waters. Oxum (Oshun) found them and raised them as her own. Therefore, Ibeji is linked to Oxum and usually receives offerings along with her.
The Purity of Children, inner healing, protection of children, joy and sweetness
Bejirô! Firm your prayer for Ibeji on the virtual altar: choose 7 days or stick, write the prayer request and follow the flame through the link you receive.
7 days for R$ 1,00 · stick for R$ 0,50
Ibeji is rarely a head orixá. His strength reaches everyone through joy, care for children and the table of sweets of Cosme and Damião.
Extrema, Minas Gerais · South of Minas
Pink and blue candles, statues of Cosme and Damião and bead necklaces in the colors of Ibeji.
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.
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Who is Doum: the name comes from Ìdòwú, which in Yoruba names those born after twins. See what is documented, what is devotion, and what has no source at all.
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Caruru of Cosme and Damião: who eats first, why the seven boys eat with their hands, what goes into the complete caruru and how the vow caruru works.
Read article
