Iyawó Woman Editorial Photo

Recognizable because she is wearing head to toe white, this woman is a new initiate into the Cuban religion of Santeria. When people begin the week-long initiation process into Santería, they symbolically die and are reborn. Their old life ends, and a new one begins. During that week, in fact, during the entire first year after the initiation ceremony ends, new initiates are called iyawó/ yawó. It's a time when the iyabó experiences limitations and prohibitions in terms of behavior, food, dress, contact with other people, and many other aspects of daily life. The year is a period of purification and rejuvination, as the iyabó gets used to interacting with the Orichás in a more intimate way.