Yemanjá : Goddess of the Sea

In Yorubá Mythology, Yemanjá is a mother goddess, patron deity of women, especially pregnant women, and the Ogum river (the waters of wich are said to cure infertility). Yemanjá is also the goddess of the ocean and patron deity of the survivors of shipwrecks. She is one of the "Supreme Trilogy" of Yorubá gods: Xangó, Obalatá and Yemanja. She is associated with the virgem Mary, and sometimes with La Siren. In New Year´s Eve Yemanja´s ritual made famous Rio de Janeiro´s Copacabana Beach, devotees of the goddess throw flowers and votive boats into the sea. It is consider a good omem for the coming year if the boat accepted by the deity and carried out the sea.