Cubans honor Saint Barbara's feast day
Posted: 12/06/2012
BAHIA HONDA, Cuba - Cubans have paid tribute to Saint Barbara and the Santeria diety Chango with offerings of flowers, fruit, burning candles, drumming and animal sacrifices.
Chango is the orisha -- spirit or diety in the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria -- of lightning, fire and war, and is associated in Cuba with Saint Barbara.
Believers hold ceremonies for "protection" from evil on Saint Barbara's feast day, which is held every Dec. 4 in Cuba.
Experts say as many as 80 percent of Cubans observe some kind of Santeria.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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