LIFESTYLE

Cuba's Santeria Faithful Ask For Prosperous 2014

By Fox News
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Dionisia Imeli Rosendo, 60, dances during a ceremony honoring Eshu-Elegbara, the deity associated with markets and commerce, and protector of the universe at the Cuatro Caminos market in Havana, Cuba, Monday, Dec. 30, 2013. Cuban followers of the Santeria faith gathered at Havana's most important market to sing ceremonial songs in the Yoruba language and spit rum at a 2-foot-tall statue of Eshu-Elegbara, to give thanks for the years blessings and ask for prosperity in 2014. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)

A woman delivers a rooster as an offering for Eshu-Elegbara, the deity associated with markets and commerce, and protector of the universe, during a Santeria ceremony at the Cuatro Caminos market, in Havana, Cuba, Monday, Dec. 30, 2013. Cuban followers of the faith gathered in the market to sing ceremonial drums, beat sacred drums and sacrifice animals to give thanks for the years blessings and ask for prosperity in 2014. Two goats and two roosters were slaughtered and their blood used to bathe the 2-foot-tall statue of Eshu-Elegbara. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)

Cuban followers of the Santeria faith visit after attending a ceremony honoring Eshu-Elegbara, the deity associated with markets and commerce, and protector of the universe, pictured in the center, at the Cuatro Caminos market Havana, Cuba, Monday, Dec. 30, 2013. About 200 people gathered at Havana's most important market, to sing ceremonial songs in the Yoruba language and spit rum at a 2-foot-tall blood-bathed statue. Two goats and two roosters were slaughtered and their blood used to bathe the icon. Worshippers also left offerings of coconut, watermelon, candy and flowers. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)

Cuban followers of the Santeria faith gather round the 2-foot-tall statue of Eshu-Elegbara, at the Cuatro Caminos market, Monday, Dec. 30, 2013. Followers sing ceremonial songs in the Yoruba language and spit rum at a the statue of Eshu-Elegbara, the deity associated with markets and commerce and also a protector of the universe, to give thanks for the years blessings and ask for prosperity in 2014. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)

A Santeria priest or babalawo uses his hand to stir the fresh blood of a slaughtered goat to keep the blood from clotting, at the base of the Eshu-Elegbara deity, during a Santeria ceremony at the Cuatro Caminos market, in Havana, Cuba, Monday, Dec. 30, 2013. Cuban followers of the Santeria faith gathered in the market to sing, beat sacred drums and sacrifice animals to give thanks for the years blessings and ask for prosperity in 2014. Two goats and two roosters were slaughtered and their blood used to bathe the 2-foot-tall statue of Eshu-Elegbara, associated with markets and commerce, and protector of the universe. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)

Santeria priest or babalawo Jose Manuel Estrada, 24, sprays rum onto the base of the Eshu-Elegbara statue at the Cuatro Caminos market in Havana, Cuba, Monday, Dec. 30, 2013. Cuban followers of the Santeria faith gathered at Havana's most important market to sing ceremonial songs in the Yoruba language and spit rum at a 2-foot-tall statue of Eshu-Elegbara. The followers also sacrificed animals to give thanks for the years blessings and ask for prosperity in 2014. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)

Santeria priest or babalawo Victor Betancourt, 60, squeezes the juice from a piece of watermelon over the statue of Eshu-Elegbara, during a New Year's ceremony at the Cuatro Caminos market in Havana, Cuba, Monday, Dec. 30, 2013. Cuban followers of the Santeria faith gathered at Havana's most important market to sing ceremonial songs in the Yoruba language and spit rum at a 2-foot-tall statue of Eshu-Elegbara, the deity associated with markets and commerce and also a protector of the universe. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes) (AP2013)

Santeria priests or babalawo slaughter a goat over the statue of Eshu-Elegbara at the Cuatro Caminos market in Havana, Cuba, Monday, Dec. 30, 2013. Cuban followers of the Santeria faith gathered in the market to sing ceremonial songs, beat sacred drums and sacrifice animals to give thanks for the years blessings and ask for prosperity in 2014. Two goats and two roosters were slaughtered and their blood used to bathe the 2-foot-tall statue of Eshu-Elegbara. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)

The head of a slaughtered rooster sits atop a blood-bathed statue of Eshu-Elegbara at the end of a Santeria New Year ceremony at the Cuatro Caminos market in Havana, Cuba, Monday, Dec. 30, 2013. Cuban followers of the Santeria faith gathered at Havana's most important market where they sang ceremonial songs, beat sacred drums and sacrified goats and roosters to give thanks for the years blessings and ask for prosperity in 2014. Eshu-Elegbara is a Yoruba deity associated with markets and commerce and also a protector of the universe. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)