Ezili Dantor

I am so totally enraptured with Dantor. Her religious image, of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa was the favorite of my paternal grandmother. I even have Nana's version on my altar, though not the original she carried over here from Italy. I held a service for Dantor recently, and she came with fierce eyes, stuttering and twirling through the peristyle. Two of her children were present, and she hugged them with fierceness and devotion. Ayibobo Mama - we keep your altar bright and hearty.

Erzulie Dantor is the Petro counterpart to Erzulie Freda. Where Freda is a city girl of refined tastes and desires, Dantor is a country woman, hard working, raising her children as best she can. She is said to have several - one being her daughter Anais, who she carries in her arms. The other is Jan Petro, who is sometimes said to be her lover as well. She is an industrious woman, with strong relationships. She is connected at times with Ogoun Feray, Simbi Makaya and the Baron. Not a faint of heart lady!

I am often asked about Dantor being so hard or tough. I look at her as being capable, forthright, strong and sure of herself in a world that is not always favorable to single women. She can become over bearing, aggressive and down right vitriolic in her aspect as Erzulie Je Rouge (Erzulie Red Eye), but before we let her get that far off, we work to bring her angry focus to useful energy in our rites for her.

Erzulie Dantor is syncretized with Our of Czestochowa. She likes grilled pork, dark Creme de Cacao and red scarves. In our house, we serve her with yellow and blue candles, scarves and cloths. Some houses also serve her with red and blue. She also loves sharp blades, silver chains and Rev D'Or perfume. At our last sevis for her, she doused all the men with it, before allowing them near her daughter who was present.