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Javier del Pino
Herminia is Felicia’s best friend. They met on the beach as little girls, when Herminia explains that in Santería, shells can predict the future. She and Felicia are fiercely loyal to one another throughout their lives. Herminia’s father, Salvador, is a highly regarded santero, or Santería priest, though he and his family are sometimes mocked and feared for their beliefs, including by Celia at times.
Herminia Delgado Quotes in Dreaming in Cuban
The Dreaming in Cuban quotes below are all either spoken by Herminia Delgado or refer to Herminia Delgado. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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The Fire Between Them Quotes
Celia is uneasy about all these potions and spells. Herminia is the daughter of a santería priest, and Celia fears that both good and evil may be borne in the same seed. Although Celia dabbles in santería’s harmless superstitions, she cannot bring herself to trust the clandestine rites of the African magic.
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God’s Will Quotes
At night, Felicia attended our ceremonies. She didn't miss a single one. For her, they were a kind of poetry that connected her to larger worlds, worlds alive and infinite. […]
Felicia's mother discouraged her devotion to the gods. Celia had only vague notions about spiritual possession and animal sacrifice, and suspected that our rites had caused her daughter's mysterious disappearance. Celia revered El Líder and wanted Felicia to give herself entirely to the revolution, believing that this alone would save her daughter. But Felicia would not be dissuaded from the orishas. She had a true vocation to the supernatural.
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Celia overturned the tureen with the sacred stones and crushed Felicia's seashells under the heels of her leather pumps. Suddenly, she removed her shoes and began stamping on the shells in her bare feet, slowly at first, then faster and faster in a mad flamenco, her arms thrown up in the air.
Then just as suddenly she stopped. She made no sound as she wept, as she bent to kiss Felicia's eyes, her forehead, her swollen, hairless skull. Celia lay with her torn, bleeding feet beside her daughter and held her, rocking and rocking her in the blue gypsy dusk until she died.
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Herminia Delgado Character Timeline in Dreaming in Cuban
The timeline below shows where the character Herminia Delgado appears in Dreaming in Cuban. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Ocean Blue
Felicia’s daydream is interrupted when her best friend, Herminia Delgado, knocks on her car window. Felicia tells Herminia about her father’s death and his...
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That night, Felicia drives to a remote, run-down house. Herminia scolds her for being late and possibly making the gods angry. Inside the house, La...
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Felicia is distressed when the man, a santero, announces that Elleguá desires a goat. Herminia tells her she has no choice if she wants the job done right. When the...
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The Fire Between Them
...house on the feast day of Changó. She wouldn’t let Felicia visit her best friend, Herminia, whose father was rumored to be a witch doctor.
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...plaza, leaving an offering of coins and fruit and praying for Felicia. Occasionally she sees Herminia Delgado passing by carrying healing spices for Felicia. Herminia’s association with Santería unnerves Celia.
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...Celia sleeps restlessly, and when she wakes up, she sends the Luz and Milagro to Herminia’s house to get her to drive them to Felicia’s house immediately. She repeats “Mi hija,”...
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The Meaning of Shells
Felicia likes volunteering for night duty. It reminds her of some of Herminia’s gods, to whom the slaves used to pray. She also remembers the nights when she...
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Celia’s Letters: 1950–1955
...men. She has started campaigning for the Orthodox Party. Salvador, the father of Felicia’s friend Herminia, says that Batista is under the god Changó’s protection and his destiny is set, but...
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God’s Will
Herminia Delgado (1980). Herminia and Felicia met when they were six years old. Felicia was collecting...
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Herminia’s father was a babalawo, or high priest of Santería. People in Santa Teresa del Mar...
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Felicia was a loyal friend, staying with Herminia after her oldest son died. She was stubborn, but she used her imagination to cope...
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After she disappeared in 1978, Felicia returned to Santería eagerly. Herminia took her to La Madrina, and Felicia entered a trance. During the trance, Felicia talked...
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...is possessed by a god and tastes the blood of goats and other animals. When Herminia sees her afterward, Felicia appears to be at peace. However, when Felicia goes home, none...
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Six Days in April
Later Pilar asks Ivanito to take her to Herminia’s house. She needs to learn the truth about herself, she explains. Herminia seems to have...
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Pilar. When Celia discovers that Ivanito and Lourdes are gone, Pilar borrows Herminia’s car, and they rush to Havana. Celia tells Pilar that families are no longer loyal...
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