Editing Ọbatala (section)

==In the Americas==
===Santería===
[[File:GeddelBonfim001.jpg|thumb|right|Festa do Bonfim, Bahia.]]
{{Yoruba people}}
'''Obatalá''' is the oldest "[[orisha]] fúnfún" ("white deity"), referring to purity, both physically and symbolically as in the "light" of consciousness. In [[Santería]], Obatalá is syncretized with [[Virgin of Mercy|Our Lady of Mercy]] and [[Jesus|Jesus Of Nazareth]]. Obatalá is said to have an equal number of male paths as female paths, but more often crowns women in part because men are traditionally crowned in [[Ifá]] in many lineages.

===Candomblé===
In Candomblé, Oxalá (Obatalá) has been syncretized with Our Lord of Bonfim; in that role, he is the patron saint of Bahia. The extensive use of white clothing, which is associated with the worship of Oxalá, has become a symbol of Candomblé in general.<ref name="van de Port2015"/> Friday is the day dedicated to the worship of Oxalá. A large [[syncretism|syncretic]] religious celebration of the [[Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim (Salvador)|Festa do Bonfim]] in January in [[Salvador, Brazil|Salvador]] celebrates both Oxalá and Our Lord of Bonfim; it includes the washing of the church steps with a special water, made with flowers.

===Snails===
The snail ''[[Achatina fulica]]'' is used for [[Religion in Brazil|religious purposes in Brazil]] as an offering to Obatala. It is seen as a substitute for the African giant snail (''[[Archachatina marginata]]'') that is used in [[Yorubaland]] because they are known by the same name (''Igbin'', also known as ''Ibi'') in both Brazil and Yorubaland.<ref name="Léo Neto et al">{{cite journal |last1=Léo Neto |first1=Nivaldo A. |last2=Brooks |first2=Sharon E. |last3=Alves |first3=Rômulo RN |title=From Eshu to Obatala: animals used in sacrificial rituals at Candomblé "terreiros" in Brazil |journal=Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |date=26 August 2009 |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=23 |doi=10.1186/1746-4269-5-23 |doi-access=free |pmid=19709402 |pmc=2739163 |issn=1746-4269}}</ref>