Nine orixás are commonly present in Umbanda, fewer than the sixteen typically found in Candomblé.
The son of Olorun, Oxalá, is associated with the sky and considered the creator of humanity.
Iemanjá is a maternal figure associated with the sea.
Nanã is also a maternal figure, linked specifically to lake and swamp waters.
Omolu is the orixá of sickness and healing.
Xangô is associated with thunder and lightning, as well as stone working and quarrying.
Ogúm governs war, metalworking, agriculture, and transportation.
Oxúm is linked to fertility and flowing water, particularly streams and waterfalls. Iansã is a female warrior connected with storms.
Oxóssi is a hunter who resides in the forest.
Exú is a trickster and guardian of the crossroads, serving as the intermediary between the orixás and humanity.
Rituals typically begin by paying homage to Exú to prevent disruption during the ceremony.
Each orixá is believed to possess distinct desires and emotions. They are associated with specific colors, such as blue for Oxúm and green for Oxóssi.
Each orixá is also connected to a particular day of the week, for example, Iansã with Wednesday and Nanã with Tuesday.
Celestial associations are also present; Xangô is linked to the planet Jupiter, and Iemanjá to the moon.
Orixás are usually associated with Roman Catholic saints.
On Umbandist altars, they are often represented through these saintly counterparts, a connection that is also reinforced in praise songs.
Xangô is often identified with Saint Geronimo,
Nanã with Saint Anne, and Omolu with both Saint Roch and Saint Lazarus.
Many Umbandistas associate Exú with the Christian Devil, and Oxalá with Jesus Christ.
These associations vary regionally: in Rio de Janeiro, Iemanjá is commonly linked to Our Lady of Glory, while in Salvador she is associated with Our Lady of the Conception. Among Umbandistas, there are differing views regarding the relationship between orixás and saints. Some consider them manifestations of the same spiritual force, while others believe that saints were once humans who embodied orixás during their lives.
