Xango and Ayra: the symbol of fire in candomblé.

Today is the 24th of June: St. John.

This Saint is celebrated throughout the western world; at that moment in many places, on the beaches, in the mountains, great bonfires are lit.

In the northeast of Brazil, large parties are celebrated in honor of this very important saint of the Christian tradition.

It is a long-awaited and celebrated night.

Even in many Candomblé terreiros, today is a day of celebration, on which Xango and Ayra are honored.

In addition to the fact that there are people who believe that there is a syncretization between the catholic saint and Xango, the reason why these two orixás are celebrated on June 24 is that they both represent the natural element of fire, which in turn is used in celebrations of St. John.

The element that determines the association of the Catholic feast of June 24th with these two orixás is not so much syncretism, but the fact that the symbol of this recurrence is fire.

In candomblé rituals, fire is used to invoke protection from disease, death and bad luck.

Fire burns, renews, attracts light, lights the way, warms up, allows nutrition: it is salvation, vital energy, transformation.

But it also represents a force that is difficult to tame, dangerous and destructive.

Probably, the symbol of fire as a purifying force, recurrent in many cultures, even if distant from each other, depends precisely on the fact that it represents two opposites.

Death and life: fire destroys, but fire is the energy that acts as a driving force.

Symbolically, fire purifies.

A beautiful Yoruba myth, collected by R. Prandi, associates Xango with the characteristics of fire: dangerous (the father wanted to kill him), but very important and, therefore, kept (pampered by those who created him); rebellious and resolute, always victorious, used to doing what he wants.

You can play with fire, but be careful. Here's the myth:

“Xango falls on the stove and plays with embers. Dadá created Xango. Dadá took pity on Xango because his father, Obatalà, ordered him to be killed. Dadá did everything Xango wanted.

She took care of Xango all day, paid full attention to him and warned him not to play with fire, not to fight with others, not to ride a horse, because he could have been hurt. But Xango, very stubborn, did what he wanted.

He always fought and won, rode a horse and never fell.

Once Xango wanted to continue playing with embers, because he liked to see how they glowed. And it didn't hurt him.

Xango was a very rude child and, as an adult, did just what he wanted. Xango did not listen to anyone's advice.

Dadá's fault, that had spoiled him too much. "

Axe.