Botánicas and Voodoo Shops in Miami - Objects for Santería Rituals

Botánica in Little Havana, Miami

The Botánicas of Miami are definitely not souvenir shops, but you might find some interesting objects in them such as African statuettes which you won't encounter elsewhere.

If you aren't interested in the religions that they are used in – Santería, Palo Mayombe and Vodou (Voodoo) – it might be best not to admit this. These religions from Cuba and Haiti are taken very seriously by their adherents.

Books About Santería
On the other hand, if you would like to understand Santería you will find books in these shops, although often in Spanish, side by side with mundane titles like A Collection of Selected Prayers.

Yoruba Religion of West African Slaves
Santería, which is also known as Regla de Ocha or La Regla Lucumi or just Lukumi, developed from the Yoruba religion of West African slaves transported to the Caribbean, mixed with the Roman Catholicism of the slaveowners, and local Native Indian religions.

Animal Sacrifice
An important part of these hybrid religions is animal sacrifice, and police in Miami have special training on how to react when they are called to deal with headless goats, sheep, chickens, pigeons and even cats or turtles found on the streets. The emphasis is on religious tolerance.

Headless Animal Carcases Near Courts
A local journalist told me that the headless carcases of animals are sometimes found round about court buildings in Miami, presumably from rituals intended to influence the judges' decisions.

Supreme Court Ruling on Ritual Animal Sacrifice
The City of Hialeah, in Miami-Dade County, introduced an ordinance prohibiting ritual animal sacrifice, but following legal action by the Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye, the Supreme Court ruled that the ban violated religious freedom.

Ceramics, Jewellery, Beads, Dolls and Statuettes
Botánicas sell items such as ceramics, jewellery, beads (sometimes by the pound), candles, herbs, shells, stones, wooden sticks, dolls and African or Catholic statuettes, often made of resin or carved from wood.

La Botánica de la Negra Francisca
Curiosity took me to one of the well-known botánicas, La Botánica de la Negra Francisca, on Southwest 8th Street, also known as Calle Ocho, in Miami's Little Havana.

The interior of the botánica was as unprepossessing as the exterior, although admittedly I took the photo when it was closed. There wasn't the sense of menace that I'd half expected, and the woman behind the counter was friendly and very ordinary.

Other Botánicas, Some Online
If you want to locate other botánicas in Miami, do a Google search for “botanica miami,” which will find those in Little Havana and other Cuban areas, or “voodoo shop miami” for Little Haiti. Some botánicas have online stores, for example El Viejo Lazaro.

Directions to Botánicas in Google Transit
You can find detailed directions to botánicas and voodoo shops, both driving and using public transport, by clicking on the Google Transit link in the right-hand sidebar of this blog.

For tips about using Google Transit, see the following post: Directions in Miami - Walking, Driving, Bike, Buses & Trains.