Metro-Dade Folklife Area at 1986 Florida Folk Festival: Santeria demonstration area

General Note/Comment

• Six color slides. Demonstration of the material culture, practices, and rites of Santeria (The Way of the Saints), a syncretic belief system combining elements of West African religion with Catholicism. Ernesto was an italero, or a high priest of Santeria. Carman was his mother, and made Santeria-related clothing and crafts. For an interview with Pichardo, see S 1576, T85-145 - S85-146. The Dade Folk Arts Survey was conducted in 1986 by folklorists Tina Bucuvalas, Nancy Nusz and Laurie Sommers in order to identify folk arts and folk artists for the special folklife area at the 34th Annual Florida Folk Festival. The traditions are mainly Haitian, Jamaican, Mexican, Bahamian, Cuban and Jewish and cover a wide range of skills and art forms.