Glossary

Oxossi

Oxóssi is the Orixá of hunting and the forest in Umbanda and Candomblé, credited with providing food and, more broadly, prosperity.

Character and domain

Oxóssi is described as light, cunning, and wise, with a personality that is friendly and generous but also, at times, tense and austere. Beyond hunting, he is associated with the arts broadly — sculpture, music, dance — and is closely linked with Ogum, described in this tradition as his brother and complement. His colors are green, blue, and bright red, and his symbols include the bow, an ox horn, and a horsetail.

Syncretism

Oxóssi is most often paired with Saint Sebastian, particularly around Rio de Janeiro, though in Bahia the same role is sometimes filled by Saint George instead — another instance of Brazilian saint-orixá syncretism varying by region rather than following one fixed rule.