Are there other traditions practiced with Lukumi/Santeria?
Yes, but this varies from ile (house) to ile. Some iles place heavy emphasis on Espiritismo (Spiritism), others have many members who also concurrently practice Palo Mayombe. It is important to note that neither Espiritismo nor Palo are Lukumi practices. The close proximity and parallel practice has caused a lot of confusion about the distinctions, and there has also been borrowing between and among the varying systems. No one FAQ can answer every question regarding a religion and its history, rituals, and traditions but hopefully this will be a starting point for demystifying a beautiful faith that has been misunderstood by many outsiders for several hundred years. original draft FAQ Dec 2005 updated April 12, 2006 Written by Denise Oliver-Velez Many thanks to those who contributed to this effort – folks from OLU, Afolabi, Jesse and countless others. You are welcome to use this material – but must cite the author and source.
