Oxum

Oxum is an orixá, she is the queen of fresh water, owner of rivers and waterfalls, worshiped in Candomblé and also in Umbanda, religions of African origin.

Oxum is Xangô's second wife and represents female wisdom and power. In addition, she is seen as the goddess of gold and the game of cowrie shells. She is the goddess of the river Oshun (or Osun) which is on the African continent, more specifically in Southwest Nigeria.

The Oxum archetype is of a graceful and elegant woman, with a predilection for jewelry, perfumes and clothes. The figure of Oshun carries a mirror in his hand. Some people confuse Oxum and Oxumarê, but according to Umbanda and Candomblé they are different deities.

Oxum represents the goddess of beauty, orixá of love, fertility and motherhood, responsible for the protection of fetuses and newborn children, adored by women who want to become pregnant. Her element is water, her color is yellow and her day is Saturday.

The orixás are ancestors deified by Candomblé, a religion brought to Brazil from Africa during the 16th century by the Yoruba people. Among the various orixás are Ogum, owner of iron and fire, defender of law and order, opening paths and winning fights, protecting the weakest; Exu is the lord of principle and transformation, he is the most important figure in Yoruba culture, the guardian of villages and cities. In the Christian religion, he is confused with Satan, an entity turned to evil, who is busy sowing discord among human beings; Iansã is a warrior, queen of the storm, the winds and lightning, and Iemanjá, goddess of the seas and oceans, much celebrated in Brazil by people of different religions. She is the patroness of fishermen and also the goddess of love.

In Brazil, each orixá was associated with a saint of the Catholic Church, in a practice that became known as religious syncretism. Oxum is syncretized as Nossa Senhora da Conceição, in most Brazilian states, and her date is December 8th.