Pilgrimage of the Virgin of Regla

Photo Feature by Elio Delgado Valdés

HAVANA TIMES – Each year on September 7th thousands of Cubans living in Havana and especially in the town of Regla, take the Virgin of Regla from its sanctuary and carry out a pilgrimage for several blocks.

The tradition of celebrating the Day of the Virgin of Regla, has its roots in the Spanish colonization, but the African slaves identified it with Yemaya, the queen of the waters, which began what we now call religious syncretism.

Today, both Catholics and devotees of Yemaya partake in the festivities of the Virgin of Regla.

This photo essay will give you a glimpse of the procession held this September 7.

Click on the thumbnails below to view all the photos in this gallery. On your PC or laptop, you can use the directional arrows on the keyboard to move within the gallery. On cell phones use the keys on the screen.

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