September 7 and 8: Our Lady of Regla, Yemayá, Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre and Oshún
September 7 & 8: two very special days for our community
There are dates that many religious Cubans don't need to mark on a calendar.
When September arrives, blue and yellow begin to be felt in our homes, our altars, and our communities.
September 7 is deeply connected in Cuba with devotion to Our Lady of Regla and with Yemayá within the Osha/Lukumí tradition.
One day later, on September 8, Cuba celebrates its Patroness, Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, while within the Afro-Cuban tradition this date is closely associated with Oshún.
For many religious families, these are two consecutive days of faith, memory, gratitude, and tradition.
💙 September 7 — Our Lady of Regla and Yemayá
💛 September 8 — Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre and Oshún
But to truly understand these dates, there is something very important we must clarify.
Our Lady of Regla and Yemayá: two traditions that met in Cuba
Our Lady of Regla belongs to the Catholic tradition.
Yemayá, for her part, belongs to Yoruba spirituality and occupies a fundamental place within the Afro-Cuban religious traditions derived from it.
Therefore, it would not be correct to simply say that Our Lady of Regla “is” Yemayá.
What happened in Cuba was much more complex.
For centuries, African traditions brought by enslaved people survived, transformed, and coexisted with Catholicism. From this historical and cultural process emerged associations between certain Catholic advocations and the Orishas.
Within the Cuban Osha/Lukumí tradition, one of the most well-known associations is precisely:
Our Lady of Regla — Yemayá.
Blue, the sea, motherhood, and protection are part of the religious and cultural language that today surrounds this date for many families.
Who is Yemayá?
Yemayá is one of the great feminine divinities of the Yoruba tradition and its development in the diaspora.
In Cuba, she is deeply linked to the sea, motherhood, protection, and maternal strength.
For her devotees, to speak of Yemayá is to speak of a mother who protects, but also of the immensity and strength of the ocean.
That is why every September 7 we see flowers, fabrics, and blue elements; people visiting the sea; families gathering and religious people honoring a tradition received from their elders.
There is no single universal way to celebrate this date. Each religious house and each lineage preserves its own customs and teachings.
And that is also part of our richness.
September 8 — Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre
If there is a religious image capable of immediately bringing back memories of Cuba, it is the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre (Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre).
Her devotion has been part of Cuban history for more than four centuries, and September 8 is when her feast day is celebrated. The Catholic Church recognizes her as the Patroness of Cuba.
Her meaning has transcended generations, places, and even borders.
For many Cubans living outside the Island, a small image of the Caridad del Cobre can mean family, childhood, promises, hope, and remembrance of the land they left behind.
That is why her devotion does not belong only to one place.
We find her in Cuba, Miami, and practically any city where there is a Cuban community.
Caridad del Cobre and Oshún
Within the Afro-Cuban religious tradition, the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre is associated with Oshún.
Again, we must make the same distinction:
The Virgen de la Caridad is an advocation of Mary within Catholicism.
Oshún is an Orisha of the Yoruba tradition.
These are different religious traditions that, due to particular historical circumstances in Cuba, became deeply related in the Cuban religious imagination and practice.
Oshún is linked to fresh waters, rivers, fertility, love, prosperity, and other aspects of life. In the Yoruba tradition of Nigeria itself, Òṣun maintains a fundamental relationship with the Òṣun river and the city of Osogbo.
In Cuba, yellow and gold have become immediately recognizable colors around Oshún.
Thus, when September 8 arrives, many homes are filled with yellow, sunflowers, flowers, and expressions of gratitude.
💙💛 Two days, two stories and a huge part of our roots
September 7 and 8 represent something especially beautiful about Cuban culture.
They remind us how our ancestors preserved traditions, how different peoples left their mark on our identity, and how faith can travel from generation to generation.
At INSHE MIAMI we know that feeling because it is also part of our history.
Many of those who come to our three stores are not simply looking for a product.
They come looking for something that reminds them of what they learned from their mother, their grandmother, their godfather, their godmother, or their religious elders.
They come looking for how to maintain a tradition.
And for us, that deserves respect.
A celebration of respect
If you are beginning to learn about the religion, remember something important:
The internet can teach us history and culture, but specific religious practices must be learned from elders and from the religious house to which we belong.
Not all houses work the same way.
Not all lineages preserve exactly the same customs.
And a publication like this never claims to replace the guidance of your religious elders.
Our purpose is to share culture, preserve memory, and help new generations understand why these dates continue to be so important.
From Cuba to Miami, the tradition continues
For those who had to leave Cuba, September can also bring nostalgia.
But our traditions traveled with us.
They arrived in a suitcase, in a holy card, in a necklace, in a prayer learned by heart or simply in the stories our elders told us.
Today they remain alive.
From INSHE MIAMI, we honor all families who maintain their roots with respect and love.
💙 May Yemayá bring protection and tranquility to our homes.
💛 May Oshún bring sweetness, prosperity, and blessings to our families.
And may Our Lady of Regla and our beloved Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre continue to occupy that special place they have in the hearts of so many Cubans.
From generation to generation, the tradition continues.
INSHE MIAMI
Culture • Tradition • Spirituality • Roots
September 7 & 8: Our Lady of Regla, Yemayá, Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre & Oshún
There are dates that many Cuban religious families do not need to mark on a calendar.
As September arrives, blue and yellow begin to appear in our homes, devotional spaces, and communities.
September 7 is deeply connected in Cuba with devotion to Our Lady of Regla and, within the Cuban Osha/Lukumí tradition, with Yemayá.
One day later, on September 8, Cuba celebrates its Patroness, Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, while within Afro-Cuban religious tradition this date is closely associated with Oshún.
For many families, these are two consecutive days of faith, remembrance, gratitude, and tradition.
💙 September 7 — Our Lady of Regla & Yemayá
💛 September 8 — Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre & Oshún
Our Lady of Regla and Yemayá: Two Traditions That Met in Cuba
Our Lady of Regla belongs to the Catholic tradition, while Yemayá originates in Yoruba spirituality and holds a fundamental place in the Afro-Cuban religious traditions that developed from it.
For that reason, it is not entirely accurate to simply say that Our Lady of Regla “is” Yemayá.
Their association developed through Cuba's complex history, as African religious traditions survived and evolved alongside Catholicism.
Within Cuban Osha/Lukumí tradition, one of the best-known associations became:
Our Lady of Regla — Yemayá.
The sea, motherhood, protection, and the color blue have become deeply connected with this September celebration for many Cuban religious families.
Who is Yemayá?
Yemayá is one of the great female divinities of Yoruba tradition and its religious expressions throughout the diaspora.
In Cuba, she is profoundly associated with the sea, motherhood, protection, and maternal strength.
For her devotees, Yemayá represents the loving protection of a mother as well as the immense power of the ocean.
Every September 7, blue flowers, fabrics, and other expressions of devotion can be seen as families and religious communities honor traditions passed down by their elders.
Practices are not identical in every religious house or lineage. Those differences are themselves part of the richness of the tradition.
September 8 — Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre
Few religious images evoke Cuba as immediately as Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre.
Her devotion has been part of Cuban history for more than four centuries, and her feast is celebrated on September 8. Within the Catholic Church, she is recognized as the Patroness of Cuba.
Her significance has transcended generations, geography, and borders.
For many Cubans living outside the island, even a small image of Our Lady of Charity can evoke family, childhood, promises, hope, and memories of Cuba.
Her devotion traveled wherever Cubans traveled.
Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre and Oshún
Within Afro-Cuban religious tradition, Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre became closely associated with Oshún.
Again, an important distinction should be preserved:
Our Lady of Charity is a Marian devotion within Catholicism.
Oshún is an Orisha of Yoruba tradition.
They belong to different religious traditions whose histories became deeply intertwined in Cuba.
Oshún is associated with fresh water and rivers, fertility, love, prosperity, and other aspects of life.
In Cuba, yellow and gold have become immediately recognizable colors associated with Oshún.
For this reason, as September 8 approaches, many homes and religious communities are filled with yellow flowers and expressions of gratitude and devotion.
💙💛 Two Days, Two Histories and an Important Part of Our Roots
September 7 and 8 tell an extraordinary part of Cuba's cultural and religious story.
They remind us how our ancestors preserved traditions, how different cultures helped shape Cuban identity, and how faith can travel from one generation to another.
At INSHE MIAMI, we understand that feeling because it is also part of our story.
Many people who enter our three stores are not simply looking for a product.
They are looking for something that reminds them of what they learned from their mother, grandmother, godfather, godmother, or religious elders.
They are looking for a way to preserve a tradition.
And that deserves respect.
Celebrating With Respect
If you are beginning to learn about these traditions, remember something important:
The Internet can help us learn about history and culture, but specific religious practices should be learned from knowledgeable elders and within one's religious house and lineage.
Not every religious house follows exactly the same customs.
An article like this should never replace the guidance of religious elders.
Our purpose is to share culture, preserve memory, and help new generations understand why these dates remain so meaningful.
From Cuba to Miami, the Tradition Continues
For those who had to leave Cuba, September can also bring nostalgia.
But our traditions traveled with us.
They arrived in a suitcase, a devotional image, a necklace, a prayer learned by heart, or simply through the stories our elders told us.
And today, they remain alive.
From INSHE MIAMI, we honor all the families who preserve their roots with love and respect.
💙 May Yemayá bring protection and tranquility to our homes.
💛 May Oshún bring sweetness, prosperity, and blessings to our families.
And may Our Lady of Regla and our beloved Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre continue to hold the special place they have occupied in the hearts of generations of Cubans.
From generation to generation, the tradition continues.
INSHE MIAMI
Culture • Tradition • Spirituality • Roots
Frequently Asked Questions about September 7 and 8
When is Yemayá's day?
In the Cuban Osha/Lukumí tradition, September 7 is one of the most recognized dates to honor Yemayá, linked in Cuban religious syncretism with Our Lady of Regla.
When is Oshún's day?
September 8 is one of the most important dates associated with Oshún within the Afro-Cuban tradition, coinciding with the Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre.
What is celebrated on September 7 in Afro-Cuban religion?
On September 7, many religious houses and devotees honor Yemayá. On the same day, there is a deep Cuban devotion to Our Lady of Regla, with whom Yemayá became historically associated within Cuban religious syncretism.
What is celebrated on September 8 in Cuba?
On September 8, the feast day of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, Patroness of Cuba, is celebrated. Within the Cuban Osha/Lukumí tradition, this date is closely related to Oshún.
Are Yemayá and Our Lady of Regla the same deity?
No. Yemayá is an Orisha of Yoruba origin, while Our Lady of Regla is a Marian advocation from Catholicism. Their relationship in Cuba arises from the historical and religious process of syncretism.
Are Oshún and Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre the same deity?
No. Oshún belongs to the Yoruba tradition, while Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre belongs to Catholicism. In Cuba, both became deeply associated within the Afro-Cuban religious tradition.
Find items for Yemayá and Oshún at INSHE MIAMI
At INSHE MIAMI we work to keep our traditions alive and offer our community a wide selection of religious items related to Yemayá, Oshún, Our Lady of Regla, and Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre.
💙 Yemayá and Our Lady of Regla
Soup tureens, tools, necklaces, crowns, images, fans, and other items available in our collection.
💛 Oshún and Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre
Soup tureens, tools, bells, necklaces, images, and other items related to Oshún.
Shop online or visit us at one of INSHE MIAMI's three stores.