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Statue of San Lázaro/Babalú Ayé/Asojano
Tallado de San Lázaro/Babalú Ayé/Asojano
23” / pulgadas de alto
11 ½ pounds / 11 ½ libras de peso |
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Hand carved from Guayacán.
Tallado por mano de Guayacán.
Unique piece: not to be found anywhere else in the world
Pieza única: no existe por ningún otro lado
$300.00
Pid: 3368
Do not forget that a statue like this exists nowhere else, though it used to, and we lament the passing of this fine art. Why are we bringing it back? The saints? Folkcuba will be producing statues of the most important saints that were and are (by some) associated with orishas, those that were proudly carried in Cabildo processions on their respective saints' days: San Lazaro (Dec,. 17), La Virgen de Regla (September 7), La Caridad del Cobre (September 8), Santa Barbara (December 4), La Virgen Mercedes (October 24). We do not all have saint images in our houses, but this genre of hand-carved large statues is a part of the traditions of our Cuban egun in our priestly lineages. Perhaps the most important Cabildo in Afro-Cuban history, called variously Cabildo Africano Lucumi, The Cabildo of Santa Barbara, and Chango Tedun, held a mass for Santa Barbara on 4 December, followed by a procession. Annually, on September 7, the Cabildo of Yemaya / La Virgen de Regla, likewise, gave a mass to the Virgin of Regla. I was followed by a procession taken out by Eshu Bi Josefa Herrera ("Pepa"), the daughter of Adechina Remigio Herrera Obara Meyi. The Virgin was carried around the town, including to the Bay of Havana and to the Church. "Stops" were made at the houses (ile') of the outstanding Regla Osha elders, where dida obi was made at the front doors of each house, at their feet, where blessings were received by all from their mayores. The saint's image was followed by bata drums and thousands of people. The procession physically traced the sacred ground of Regla. Are these shrines and "stops" not like other kinds of "posiciones exteriores" to which ebo' is made in other contexts? The Cabildo the Virgin of Regla of Susana Cantero Omi Toke proceeded likewise.
The hand-carving of saints for cabildos and houses, as well as for ordinary religious people (civilians), continued up through the early 1970s, when the industry died world-wide. Unfortunately, many devout people have been left with nothing but more or less acceptable plaster and resin statues. Think of how many houses you've been to in which the first thing you see is a life-size statue of San Lazaro with a cape. Invariably, such a statue marks a solemnly important promessa to San Lazaro/Asojano. The feast of San Lazaro starts on December 16 and proceeds into December 17th. While many make pilgrimages from as much as 12 or more miles away (Havana), the physical trek starts in earnest at the Rincon train station and proceeds six kilometers to the Church of San Lazaro. Stalls selling statues line the route. Many houses give drummings to Asojuano/Babalu Aye/San Lazaro in their front yards. It is as if the walls are blown open and worship in all its forms takes place outside. People are mounted in their yards and on the street. Groups from palo houses process with candles, often surrounding a pilgrim on his knees. I saw an egun walking on his knees into the church yard signing a the top of his lungs while his group around him provided a response. The songs were for Kowayende. People then enter the church and some, but not all, are blessed before the shrine of San Lazaro Obispo (The Bishop), which is not the popular San Lazaro resuscitated in the biblical parable and who deals with poverty and sickness. The most serious priests say alternately, without extra thought, Asojano, Babalu Aye, and San Lazaro. It is not everyone's reality, but I believe it deserves respect.
Dr. David Brown
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