The queen of the sea, the kind and welcoming Yemanjá, has a dazzling image for those who are faithful... She has dark hair, delicate features, and full breasts, which make a connection with motherhood. This religious deity is of great value, for she welcomes all who ask her for help without judging or minimizing pain, thus earning another title: the goddess of unconditional love, the goddess ofcompassion!

The Tale of Yemanjá

Many stories feature Yemanjá as the protagonist. Many have tried for thousands of years to tell their versions of her origin, and here in Brazil she arrived through African slaves in colonial times. Back in Africa, she was known as the queen of sweet waters, that is, of the rivers, but became popular with the faith of the sympathizers as the queen of the meeting of waters, from the river to the sea!

Iemanjá was the daughter of Olokun. Her name means "mother whose children are like fish" and she has the Ogun River, in Nigeria, as the river that most represents her.

The origin of Yemanja Day

This orixá carries a legion of admirers, who offer her different treats, because they believe that the queen takes everything to the depths of the sea along with all the problems, the confessions, the difficulties, and brings back on the foam of the waves faith, hope, and the opening of paths to a better and less complicated future, which explains jumping over the seven waves on New Year's Eve!

opaidetheo / 123rf

So, with so much power and devotion, Iemanjá was given a day to call her own, February 2nd, a feast of Iemanjá... This is because she is a feminine figure, enlightened and strong in candomblé and umbanda, referring to Our Lady, the Virgin Mary of the Catholic Church, who was introduced to the temple on that same day!

Iemanjá's day is strongly celebrated and has the honor of being one of the biggest religious festivals, when her faithful dress in white and go to the beaches to offer Iemanjá jewelry, flowers, food, and the treat they say is her favorite, for her beauty, Iemanjá's mirrors!

Children of Yemanjá

Those who are devoted to the deeds, prayers, and power of this queen are fondly called Iemanjá's children! The faithful believe that they possess an ocean of blessings and protection, that the numbers 3, 4, and 9 are the favorite of the queen of the seas, that her favorite day of the week is Saturday, and that with her family harmony is guaranteed! They wear white, aqua green, and light blue to please her.

You may also like

• Understand about the religious syncretism between Saint George and Ogum
• Deconstruct prejudice by learning more about Umbanda
• Meet the 7 Greek goddesses and their respective legends

In this way, we can better understand the love and devotion of thousands of people for Yemanjá! She is completely linked to blessings for the family; she is strong in all senses, without losing her beauty and delicacy, and lives in the most important natural environment in the world, water! Long live Yemanjá!