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REAL THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT VOODOO

Added on: 1st Nov 2016

 

VOODOO DOLLS AREN'T REALLY A THING

voodoo dolls

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

voodoo dance in benin

Voodooists communicate with lesser spirits through prayer,

animal sacrifice, possessions and drum/dance ceremonies.

 

 

CLERGY IN VOODOO

Ceremonial suit for Voodoo rites - Berlin 2010

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

Voodoo_altar_in_Tropenmuseum

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

Haitian_revolution

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

San_Domingo battle during 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

Herb_collection

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"

Gbe_languages

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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