The Azabache. (MBFCF Giveaway #4)

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Today's lesson in Cuban culture comes to you directly from Miami from my friend, Elena Santayana. Last year Elena was kind enough to share her family's "coming to America" story here on My Big, Fat, Cuban Family. Her family owns the beautiful jewelry store of the same name. Santayana Jewelers in Miami.

  • Santayana Jewelers • 917 SW 122 Ave. • Miami, Florida • (305) 559-8565
  • Santayana Jewelers • 640 Crandon Blvd. • Key Biscayne • (305) 361-2786

The azabache is a black onyx stone. Cleaned and polished and attached to a pin of some sort. The unassuming azabache is the grand protector of all Cuban babies from untold evils.

There were two things that every Cuban child was practically born with: Violetas cologne and an azabache.

The Violetas is a light cologne scented with violets. I am venturing to guess that there is not one Cuban child in my family who was deprived of smelling deliciously of violets, but that's not important right now.

Also mandatory for every Cuban kid, was the azabache. It's the only thing that can protect from jealousy, the evil eye, and all sorts of untold calamaties brought on by strangers glancing sideways at you as they pass by.

As Santayana says, "The azabache...keeping you safe on the playground since 1978..."

Safety first

Today's very Cuban offering for MBFCF Giveaway Week is generously sponsored by Santayana Jewelers.

Azabache

And it is.....you guessed it - An azabache!

Not just any pedestrian azabache, either. It's a Santayana exclusive design - an authentic silver azabache pendant on a leather and silver Chamilia bracelet.

MBFCF Blogiversary Giveaway #4: Santayana Leather Bracelet with Azabache (retail value: $90.)

Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win this gorgeous Leather Bracelet and Azabache charm from Santayana Jewelers and please answer one or both of the following questions:

  • Did you have an azabache pinned to you as a baby?
  • Did you pin one on your own kids - por si acaso? (I know you did. Confess.)
  • NOTE: Even if you're not Cuban and don't have the fantastic superstitions that we grew up with as part of your emotional baggage, please feel free to enter to win this beautiful bracelet. Just tell me anything about yourself as a child.

For an extra entry,, please go "like" Santayana Jewelers on Facebook and come back and leave me another comment telling me:

"I like Santayana Jewelers!"

So that's not one, but two chances to win.

I'll choose a winner at the end of MBFCF Blogiversary Giveaway Week on Wednesday, October 9th, 2013 at 11 am, so you have all week to enter.

If you absolutely can't wait for a winner to be drawn next week and you want to go ahead and order your own Azabache Bracelet immediately (take no chances with your health, people!), Santayana Jewelers is very graciously offering an online promotion for My big, fat, Cuban family readers.*

*Santayana & MBFCF Promotion: $40 off your $150 purchase with the promo code MARTASENTME. (I feel sooo accidentally cool.)