Babalao with Chicken

Ernesto, the Babalao at the ceremony, is sacrificing the chicken. There was an array of bowls, fruits, nuts, and bottles of rum set up. Some of these items then had chicken blood sprinkled over them. After this people danced, sang, and the drums beat louder and louder until one or two dancers fell into trances and dropped to the ground-I think from both emotional, spiritual, and physical exhaustion. It was hot, humid, and they had danced non-stop for more than an hour. When we went to the beach and Maria danced in the edge of the ocean she eventually collapsed and was simply floundering in the surf. My old life guard instincts kicked in and I bounded into the surf as if I was once again 19 and back at the beach in South Carolina. It was an easy rescue.

Sacrifice

Most of the Santeria ceremonies involve a sacrifice, typically a chicken. Here Maria, the person for whom the ceremony was being held, handles the sacrificed chicken. She suffers from Hepatitis C infection, had been losing weight and had visited a babalao who had recommended the sacrifice and ceremony as a means of asking a spirit for help in attaining better health.

This woman is dancing in time to the chanting of Antonio and the beat of several drums-a bongo and a conga drum that were brought for the ceremony. The rhythm is infectious. Two of the dancers became transfixed by the music and the dancing and went into trances. Maria, one of the two, fell in the surf. My old lifeguard instincts were still present I suppose for I crashed into the surf to the rescue. It was a fascinating experience.