Santeria Priests See Bad Omens in Coming Year

Priests of the Afro-Cuban religion Santería called on islanders Monday to be wary of diseases, broken agreements and corruption as they issued their much-anticipated predictions for the New Year.

Although the annual "Letter of the Year" is vague enough to be interpreted in a variety of ways, Cubans anxiously look forward to it each January.

Several competing groups of Santería priests, or babalaos, gather every New Year's Eve for religious ceremonies that include chanting and animal sacrifices. Predictions are announced in the first days of the New Year. Full Story

Related: religion, wicca, pagan, santeria