Download e-book for iPad: A Year in White: Cultural Newcomers to Lukumi and Santería by C. Lynn Carr

In the Afro-Cuban Lukumi spiritual tradition—more as a rule recognized within the usa as Santería—entrants into the priesthood suffer a unprecedented fifty-three-week initiation interval. in this time, those novices—called iyawo—endure a number of prohibitions, together with so much significantly donning solely white clothing. In A yr in White, sociologist C. Lynn Carr, who underwent this initiation herself, opens a window in this outstanding year-long spiritual transformation.
 
In her intimate research of the “year in white,” Carr attracts on fifty-two in-depth interviews with different contributors, an internet survey of approximately 200 others, and nearly a decade of her personal ethnographic fieldwork, amassing tales that let us to work out how cultural rookies and natives suggestion, felt, and acted in regards to their initiation. She records how, through the iyawo yr, the ritual slowly transforms the initiate’s identification. For the 1st 3 months, for example, the iyawo won't use a reflect, even to shave, and needs to consume all nutrition whereas seated on a mat at the flooring utilizing just a spoon and their very own set of dishes. through the complete yr, the iyawo loses their identify and is just addressed as “iyawo” through kin and friends.
 
Carr additionally indicates that this year-long spiritual ritual—which is performed at the same time the iyawo is going approximately day-by-day life—offers new perception into faith quite often, suggesting that the sacred isn't separable from the profane and certainly that faith stocks an ongoing dynamic courting with the realities of lifestyle. spiritual expression occurs at domestic, at the streets, at paintings and school.
 
providing perception not just into Santería but in addition into faith extra often, A yr in White makes a massive contribution to our knowing of advanced, dynamic non secular landscapes in multicultural, pluralist societies and the way they inhabit our day-by-day lives.