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Virgen de Caridad del Cobre
The Virgin of Caridad del Cobre was first revealed to Juan de Hoyos, Rodrigo de Hoyos, and Juan Moreno, known as "los tres Juanes", in 1604, in a bay known as Bahía de Nipe, on the coast of Cuba. They were out on the bay in a small row boat, when a storm arose and nearly swamped the boat. They prayed to the Virgin to save them, and the Virgin of Caridad del Cobre appeared to them and calmed the waters, and they were saved.
She was the Virgin of Caridad, or the Virgin of Charity, and she had a shrine in Spain already where she was well known, but her appearance in Cuba marked a new era for this Virgin. She was eventually moved to another location in Cuba called Cobre, because of the copper mine that was near there ("cobre" means "copper" in Spanish).
Caridad del Cobre is probably the most important figure in the Cuban sect of Santeria. She is seen as the representative of the African goddess Ochum (or Ochun, as it is sometimes spelled), the goddess of love.
Caridad del Cobre is also the patron saint of Cuba.
Here is what one Santeria author has written about Ochun:
"Ochun is the goddess of love, of money and indeed of happiness. She brings to us all the good things of life. She is the goddess of sweet water and can be found where there is fresh water, at rivers, ponds and especially waterfalls. Many offerings are sometimes left for her at the waterfalls. Many ceremonies are done at the river bank. Remember that the future Iyawo must go to the river for a special cleansing by Ochun the night before they are "crowned" in Ocha. Ochun loves to dance and make merry, but she also has a serious side. She is a great diviner and usually her children are very well endowed with psychic abilities, especially when using the sacred seashells or "caracoles" in divination which are the mouths of the Orishas. She is very sensual, but also very sensitive. Sometimes she can be easily offended. Most everyone tries to stay on her good side, since her blessings make life worth living.
"In Haiti, Ochun is known as Erzile. She has the same caracteristics as Ochun, but her colors are slightly different. Ochun's color is yellow and gold, due to the association with money. Ochun is associated with Our Lady of the Caridad del Cobre. Cobre means copper in spanish, and the first money slaves saw in Cuba when they arrived was made of copper. So they identified Ochun with Our Lady of the Caridad del Cobre. Whatever you call the african goddess of love and money, she is the same energy. Her help is often sought when there are problems in a marriage, or when a woman wishes to get married. Her function as an Orisha is very important. Our Lady of the Caridad del Cobre is the patron Saint of Cuba and the people love her dearly.
"Yalorde means Queen and this is a popular title for Ochun. Just as the Virgen of the Caridad del Cobre represents the Queen of Heaven, so does she also represent in the minds of Cubans, the Queen of Love and Money. All of our Orishas are considered to be Kings and Queens. This is in part due to the fact that many of them did walk on the earth like Chango and were indeed kings. Ochun, being the Orisha of love, enchanted the other male Orishas, and had relationships with many of them. No one can resist the charms of Ochun, whether Orisha or man. "
There is some speculation, and this is based on archeological evidence, along with a lot of other factors, that Ochun is really evolved from Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of love and music.
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