Haitian Culture – Voodoo

The word “voodoo” conjures many things – the typical witch doctor with painted face and a bone through his nose, human sacrifices being placed in boiling cauldrons, kewpie dolls with pins stuck in them and of course, zombies. Alas, none of the above is right, but it sure makes for compelling, if ambiguous, entertainment by way of books and film in well loved culture. One thing that in fact is right in these fictional depictions is the location many of them are typically aligned with – voodoo does originate in Haiti.

While Haiti and voodoo do have a cultural history and existent link between them, that’s about where the clichs end. Fact of the matter is, the authoritative religion in Haiti is Catholicism. But the inhabitant religion is most beyond doubt voodoo. The majority of Haitians practice or believe in the tenants of voodoo to some degree, but these those also attend a more habitual catholic church as well. Strangely enough, the word for ‘voodoo’ does not even exist in rural Haiti. The origins of the word are derived from the creole word “vodoun”; its meaning can be more or less translated to describing a type of dance or a category of spirits. Involved Catholics in Haiti commonly regard themselves as serving the spirits, or more particularly, “family spirits”.

Family spirits, or “loua”, are said to be inherited through affectionate lines. These “loua” protect their “family” from harm; in return, the family must occasionally honor the spirits through rituals. These rituals are centered on offerings of food, wine and other gifts. Rituals of honor are commonly only carried out once per year, some only once per decade.

It is believed that loua will make their rage known to their human family by manifesting corporal illness; hence, voodoo is commonly used to diagnose illness, and now and again to treat or rectify it also. As loua are special to their respective families and are only capable of affecting their own family, the notion of a voodoo follower using a loua to inflict harm or persuasion upon anyone is fake; this successfully dispels the thought of making a “voodoo” doll and using it for nefarious means – yet another voodoo related stereotype dispelled.

Voodoo specialists tend to be regarded as disinterested party between humans and the spirit world. They are employed to diagnose sickness and now and again are requested to find the origins of misfortune or terrible luck for some families. Many times, illness is diagnosed and the voodoo practitioner can treat the illness as many voodoo experts are also well educated in the art of herbalism.

Even if voodoo lacks any distinguishable caste or hierarchy, it is a set of spiritual beliefs and practices that resides side by side with the more habitual aspects of Catholicism in Haiti, often regarded as accoutrement to the conventional notions of religion. Hence, it is often considered a cult-like religion or system of beliefs and values, when in reality; it is simply one of many indigenous religions located around the world in contained or remote areas.

BookIt.com is an online travel company determined and dyed-in-the-wool to apt the leader in providing travelers with the most intuitive online booking encounter full of relevant information, helpful guides and travel tips. Find fantastic deals on dominican state hotel at BookIt.com!

Popular Tags:

Category: Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , Comment »


Leave a Reply



↑ Back to top