REAL THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT VOODOO
Added on: 1st Nov 2016
VOODOO DOLLS AREN'T REALLY A THING
The commonly cited Voodoo dolls aren’t entirely Voodoo dolls
but rather come from a type of African folk magic named
Hoodoo. The dolls, often made to transfer a curse onto
somebody, are made from corn shafts, potatoes, plant matter,
clay, or clothes. Despite Hollywood’s over-hyping of the
dolls, they are not used by most Voodoo practitioners.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE LWA
Voodooists communicate with lesser spirits through prayer,
animal sacrifice, possessions and drum/dance ceremonies.
CLERGY IN VOODOO
Men and women can be ordained as clergy in the Voodoo
religion and are known as Hougan and Mambo, respectively.
Though they can offer advice to followers, it is maintained
that everyone is individually capable of their own
enlightenment. A strong sense of community is
nonetheless one of the central tenants of Voodooism.
VOODOO WAS BANNED IN SAINT DOMINGUE
In 1685, France banned any practicing of African religions
in their colony of Saint Dominque. Slave owners were
required to Christianize their slaves within 8 days of
arrival and many were baptized. Slaves didn’t give up
their native religions but rather merged them with
Catholicism to give the appearance to the
slave drivers they had converted.
NEW ORLEANS VOODOO'S ROOTS
The Voodoo tradition in Louisiana and especially New Orleans
was brought by African and Creole slaves fleeing the
Haitian Revolution at the end of the 18th century.
A VOODOO PRIEST STARTS THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION
Boukman Dutty, a Voodoo priest, is widely recognized as
starting the Haitian Revolution after making prophesies and
declaring leaders at a religious ceremony in August 1791.
THE CENTRALITY OF HEALING
Central to Voodoo is healing people from illnesses. Herbs are
used and the lwa are invoked to heal the sick.
THE ORIGIN OF THE WORD "VOODOO"
The word Voodoo comes from the West African language of
Fon and means “spiritual entity”. The Fon were and are
an ethnic and linguistic group mainly centred around
southern Benin.
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