Santo Daime in Europe: Ritual Transfer and Cultural Translations - Jan Weinhold

Ritual transfer describes how practices like Santo Daime, which originate in Brazil, are adapted and translated when introduced to different cultural contexts in Europe. This study draws on a decade of research into the use of psychoactive substances within the Santo Daime church in Germany, highlighting how the ritual experience itself remains consistent while its embedding in local life, language, and cultural norms differs significantly from its origins in the Amazon. Rather than a rapid expansion, Santo Daime has maintained a stable, niche community in Europe. Participants frequently navigate different legal environments, often traveling to countries where the ritual is more established. The integration of non-Christian elements, language shifts, and the lack of local sacramental production illustrate the ongoing process of cultural translation required to sustain these practices.