Once upon a time there was a rich man who dressed in fine clothes and there was also a poor man named Lazarus, all covered with sores, who was lying at the door of the rich man. He would have liked to be satisfied with what fell from the rich man's table, and even the dogs came to lick his sores.
The poor man died and was taken by angels to heaven and the rich man also died and was buried.
Being the rich man in hell he raised his eyes and saw Abraham in the distance with Lazarus on his lap. He then he shouted: "Father have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tips of his fingers in water and refresh me because he torments me with these flames." Abraham replied: "Son, remember that you received your goods during life, while Lazarus received evil. Now he finds comfort here and you, on the other hand, torment". The other replied: "Then I beg you to send Lazarus to my father's house and to testify about him so that they too do not come to this torment, since they do not listen to Moses or the prophets."
The story tells that, in the last of Jesus' visits to Lazarus' house, Jesus arrives when Lazarus is already dead and buried. Then, Jesus opens the tomb, and at his order, Lazarus resurrects.
-Jesus, moved again, came to the tomb, which was a cave with a stone on top, and said to him: "Roll the stone away." Marta, the deceased's sister, replied: “Sir, it smells bad; He's been dead for four days now."
- Jesus said to him: «Have I not told you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?». Then the stone was rolled away, and Jesus, looking up to heaven, said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me.
I know that you always hear me, but I have told him for these people who surround me, so that they believe that you have sent me».
After saying this, he cried out in a loud voice: "LAZARUS, COME OUT!"
Babalú Ayé is a deity in the Yoruba religion, which has its origins in West Africa, especially Nigeria. He also known as Obaluaiye or Omolu.
December 17 is celebrated in Cuba in honor of Saint Lazarus, who is known as Babalú Aye in the Afro-Cuban religion of Santería. This holiday is a mix of Catholic and African traditions, reflecting the religious syncretization that characterizes many cultures in the Caribbean, especially in Cuba.
In Catholic tradition, Saint Lazarus is revered as the patron saint of the poor and sick, associated with healing and protection against illness. His holiday is celebrated guided by the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church.
In Cuban Santería, Babalú Aye is a deity associated with the healing of illnesses and the trials of life. He is often depicted as an old man covered in sores, leaning on a cane or crutch, reflecting his role as a healer of illness and disease, with powers to heal illnesses and protect his followers from illness.
In Yoruba mythology, he is considered to have the power to both inflict and cure diseases, and is often invoked in rituals and ceremonies aimed at healing.
Babalú Ayé is revered in various Afro-Caribbean religions, such as Santería and Candomblé, where he can be syncretized with other religious figures, such as Saint Lazarus in Cuban Santería.
The celebration of Saint Lazarus Day in Cuba combines elements of both religious traditions, with mass pilgrimages to the Church of Saint Lazarus in El Rincón, near Havana, where devotees seek healing and perform rituals of faith.
In short, Saint Lazarus Day is celebrated in Cuba as a religious holiday that honors both Saint Lazarus in the Catholic tradition and Babalú Aye in Cuban Santería, with a particular focus on healing illnesses and protection against adversity.