yemanjá, originally a purely black image of the african religion Candomblé in brazil was incorporated in the Umbanda religion, with her image changing into a white woman with long black hair, blue eyes, and open hands dropping pearls in the water, almost mermaid-like.

celebrated on february 2nd in other parts of brazil, yemanjá is the deity who takes care of family heritage, bringing peace and harmony to a home.

Of all the offering days of the month, in rio de janeiro the day for yemanjá on december 31st is the most popular - as the date merges with new year's eve and offering rituals happen along the shores of copacabana beach, home of rio's main new year's eve celebrations.