A Study of Candomble Sacrifice Rituals
In Sacrifice: Its Nature and Functions, Henri Hubert and Marcel Mauss describe the rites and rituals usually surrounding sacrifice in a religious context. They attempt to create a method for studying sacrifice according to the consecrating rituals that surround the act itself. According to Hubert and Mauss, it is these rituals which define the sacrifice; a sacrifice without these rituals would indeed be meaningless and empty. These rituals shape the sacrifice into what it is.
Hubert and Mauss list several distinguishing factors that a sacrificial ritual should carry; the sacrifice is only as important as the rituals that surround it. These rituals, whatever they may be, need to be precise. Anything less than exactly what the ritual traditionally consists of is simply asking for trouble and reprimanding from the deities. As these rituals all have to do with higher spiritual beings, these punishments could indeed lead to death. [1] These rituals include a sacred space, correct timing, separating the sacred from the profane and consecrating what is profane. According to Hubert and Mauss, sacrifice must also do two things: it must have an expiatory function and it must create some form of a union with the deity.
By focusing on the rituals, they are allowing for leeway as to what exactly the sacrifice is. Sacrifice does not have to be pigeonholed into the age-old misconceptions of throwing virgins into active volcanoes or binding goats to a stake. In this paper, I intend to look carefully at the public ceremonies of an Afro-Brazilian Candomblé and determine if they fit the model given by Hubert and Mauss. While there is no “typical” sacrifice, like the ones mentioned above...
... middle of paper ...
...---------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Hubert and Mauss 23
[2] Walker 121
[3] Walker 118
[4] ibid
[5] Murphy 52-53
[6] Murphy 54, 59
[7] Candomblé 16- 17
[8] Calhoun 4/20/02
[9] Pai-de-santo Leopoldo, 4/23/02
[10] Walker 109
[11] Murphy 59
[12] Walker 119
[13] Murphy 60
[14] Walker 119
[15] Murphy 60
[16] Murphy 60-61
[17] Murphy 62
[18] ibid
[19] Murphy 78
[20] Hubert and Mauss 29
[21] Hubert and Mauss 27
[22] Murphy 75
[23] Murphy 68-69
[24] Hubert and Mauss 20
[25] Walker 119
[26] Calhoun 4/20/02
[27] Murphy 68
[28] Mãe-de-santo Ana
[29] Calhoun 4/20/02
[30] Murphy 73
[31] Hubert and Mauss 45
[32] Walker 121
[33] Murphy 61
[34] Hubert and Mauss 6
[35] Candomblé 16
[36] Murphy 67
[37] Candomblé 21
The sacrifice made to appease the gods is an ancient custom to insure that the harvest provides what is necessary to support the village. Amy Griffin describes this phenomenon in her essay “Jackson's The Lottery” by saying “ancient peoples began sacrificial rituals to emulate the resurrection cycle” and describes the resurrection cycle, what she terms the scapegoat archetype, as “transferring one's sins to persons or animals and then sacrificing them, people believed that their sins would be eliminated”(44). This removing of sins was supposed to appease the gods and allow them to bless the village with prosperity. The majority of the village is oblivious to this meaning, the sacrifice of one for the benefit of the whole. Old Man Warner, however, does remember “used to be a saying about 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon'” (Jackson 393). Old Man Warner is, however, the only one that remembers anything about this original meaning. Death by stoning, which in itself is ancient and steeped in many rituals, is the fate that awaits the chosen victim....
To understand the practice of human sacrifice one must look at the reasons why the culture did such practices. There are three main ways of examining a cultural practice from an anthropological perspective.
The Aztecs believed they owed the gods everything for creating them and the world around them, therefore the gods needed to be fed or nourished daily. To honor their gods and show their gratitude they performed human sacrifices by offering hearts and blood. In doing so, they believed human sacrifices would ensure their existence to the world, and in turn help them in their after life. Aztecs also saw these rituals as a way to send a political message to control their own citizens and instill fear in their foreign neighbors. These sacrifices were performed by a specialized priest at the great temple, the Huey Teocalli, at the very top of the pyramid for all to witness. The heart was cut out while the victim was still alive. The still beating heart would then be burned in offering to the chosen god. Afterward, the body was thrown down the stairs of the pyramid where the head was then cut off and placed on a skull rack, known as a Tzompantli, displayed for all to see. (Ancient History
In the selection, The Ramayana, it is a sacrifice in the ultimate sense. A woman, Kaikeyi, is forced to choose between the man that she married and rules and empire with and they one of the sons they produced. To save her son, she must make the sacrifice of her husband to save the life of their son. This was taken directly from Hinduism and this story is still told to children who practice Hinduism. With the lessons taught individually from each of these stories, children and adults will be able to learn lessons for years to come, as long as these stories are told to the upcoming generation of children.
The term liturgy has its basis in Greek mythology. It can be defined as a form of worship that is that is done according to particular beliefs and practices that are held by a certain group of people. The beliefs and the rituals are usually practiced by the whole group. It may be understood as a ritual that is usually elaborate. Ritual on the other hand refers to a number of activities that are performed in a sequential manner and which more often are prescribed by specific communities. Liturgy plays different functions depending on their nature. To begin with, the catholic liturgy expresses certain religious beliefs towards a Supreme Being and therefore done in a manner that is an expression of worship to the Supreme Being. The term ritual
...g people to take the blame for others; society needs to rid the world of this ancient ritual sacrifice.
20) In the Greek belief system, sacrifice played a huge role because it was an important ritual done in Greek religion. It showed dedication and respect to the gods they performed for at alters. They also gave gifts to their gods, hoping that they would receive favor and protection from the gods.
Scaring the reader with the blatant disregard for life to the point it was a joyful event once the person was picked to be sacrificed can almost be sickening if you were to think hard enough on it. The mixture of old and new persons and how they feel about following tradition to the dot even though it has lost meaning can be a good warning on thinking for yourself and being critical of what is happening around you. Finding a way out of being guilty for wrong doing is something that is pretty predominant in our society and it’s a good look on how it can be
These offerings were made for the gods, temple consecration, the rise of a new leader and during natural disturbances such as drought and disease. They used animals like deer, dogs, jaguars and birds as offering. They cut the bird’s head of an...
the deities and attempt to explain the psychological necessity of these rituals. An examination will be made of the typical forms of rituals, and cite their effects,
1985. “An Interpretation of Sacrifice in Leviticus” in Anthropological Approaches to the Old Testament. Ed., Bernhard Lane.
In the story there is always a sacrifice at the end of the ritual. They are all susceptible to the hypothetical crass theory that if they murder the masses will flourish. May discusses how the heart of the story is based on this old concept: “the notion of the scapegoat”(2451). It is not a new theory as it is presented with grandiose to unsuspecting citizens. Jackson also hints at a comparison to the “holocaust” as “the townspeople are unable to fully question or prevent the brutal lottery process”(Moss, Joyce, and Wilson, 236-237). Making this theme hard to swallow and all too soon for some readers. Jackson repeatedly proves her bravery in her writing by touching such untouchable
In the Brazilian Amazon, the young men of the Xicrin tribe observe a rite of passage to prove their manhood and gain the right to be called warriors. The young females take on the nurturing role. They help prepare the feast ...
The article equips the reader with the tools needed to better understand other cultures, in terms of their own beliefs and rituals. Miner’s original approach does create a certain level of confusion that forces the reader to critically evaluate his purpose. “Body Ritual among the Nacirema” by Horace Miner ultimately brings people together, by illuminating the eccentricities present in all
Some cultures in the Spanish Caribbean participate in sacrificing and they also hold clergy to a different standard than those in the United States. Some of the religious practices they have also involved monotheism although polytheism is more customary. Some often look at their sacrifice as odd, disgusting and inhumane. When in reality most of us come from cultures that historically made sacrifices and were