Marie Laveau, Voodoo Queen
Dear
George,
Whenever
we’re in the French Quarter, we stop in at Marie LaVeau’s House of Voodo on
Bourbon St. near St. Ann. Because
of its tawdry location in the midst of stripper bars, etc., some might think of
it as a tourist trap. But, as a
visitor to New Orleans from the Great Midwest, I regard it as mostly authentic – a curious repository of a world
that’s far removed from my knowledge and experience. Marie LaVeau’s is full of otherworldly things – voodoo
dolls, amulets, books galore, shrunken heads, good luck charms, tarot cards,
candles, etc. They offer Psychic
Services on the spot, and you can arrange for a Voodoo Tour of the French
Quarter. After my most recent
visit, I decided I need to get in better touch with the voodoo world.
Voodoo
was imported to New Orleans and Louisiana from Africa, as well as from Haiti
following the revolution there. In
the early 1700's most African slaves came to Louisiana from what is now Benin
in West Africa. They brought with
them their cultural practices, language, and religious beliefs. Their knowledge of herbs, poisons, and
the ritual creation of charms and amulets became key elements of Louisiana
Voodoo. The ratio of African
slaves to European settlers in Louisiana in the 1730's was two to one and the
concentration of slave ownership in the hands of a relatively small number of white
settlers facilitated the preservation of African culture. Consequently, African rituals and
spirituality did not die out, but instead thrived and merged with the local
French Creole culture.
Belief
in spirits is central to Louisiana Voodoo. Originally the spirits were called by their African names,
but, once native languages were replaced by French Creole, the names of
Catholic saints were given to the spirits. African beliefs were very open, and adoption of Catholic
practices became central to what is known today as New Orleans Voodoo. This includes Hail Mary and the Lord's
Prayer, baptism, and the sign of the cross. Early Voodoo frequently involved making and wearing charms
for protection, healing, or the harm of others, and rituals frequently invoked
protection from Allah, the Christian God, and Jesus Christ. Voodoo's core beliefs include the
recognition of a single God who does not intervene in people's daily lives,
combined with a collection of spirits that do preside over everyday events. The spirits can be kind or they can be
mischievous. Connection with them
can be achieved through music, singing, dance, and the use of snakes. Unlike Judeo-Christian imagery, the
serpent in Voodoo represents “healing knowledge and the connection between
Heaven and Earth.” One's deceased
ancestors can also affect Voodoo followers’ lives.
In
the 19th century Voodoo queens became central to Louisiana Voodoo. They presided over ceremonial meetings
and ritual dances and earned income by administrating charms, amulets, and
magical powers which were guaranteed to cure ailments, grant wishes, or destroy
one's enemies. In the 1830s the
most famous of the Voodoo queens was Marie Laveau, who overthrew the other
Voodoo queens of New Orleans.
Marie Laveau began as a hairdresser, then became a nurse during the
Yellow Fever epidemics.
Consequently she was skilled in medical practice and knowledgeable about
the healing properties of herbs.
Specializing in romance and finance, she conducted private rituals at
her cottage on St. Ann St. in the French Quarter, performed exorcisms, and
offered sacrifices to spirits. As
a devout Catholic, she encouraged her followers to attend Mass. Even today, thousands of people visit
Marie Laveau's tomb in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to ask favors and leave
offerings. Her grave has more
annual visitors than does Elvis Presley's, and there is a strong movement to
have her canonized as a saint.
When
New Orleans became a major tourist destination in the 1930s, Voodoo went
underground. So many tourists were
asking favors of Voodoo practitioners that the latter withdrew from the public
eye. Others, however, took
financial advantage of the situation, charging money, as true Voodoo followers
never would, for fake potions, powders, and gris-gris. Nowadays genuine Voodoo rituals are
held behind closed doors and include readings, spiritual baths, special diets,
prayer, and personal ceremony.
Voodoo is used to cure anxiety, loneliness, depression, addictions, and
other distressing conditions. Like
Marie Laveau once did, Voodoo practitioners today seek to help the hungry, the
poor, and the sick.
There
are many superstitions associated with Louisiana Voodoo. A few of these are:
- Having a woman visit you the first thing on Monday mornings means
bad luck for the rest of the week.
- If you sweep trash out of the house after dark, you will sweep
away your luck.
- If a woman wants her husband to stay away from other women, she
should put a little of her blood in his coffee, and he will never leave
her.
- You can give someone a headache by taking their picture and then turning the picture upside down.
On
my recent visit to the House of Voodoo I bought an authentic copy of Marie
Laveau’s death certificate, dated June 16, 1881. The President of the Board of Health, Joseph Jones, M.D.
certifies that Marie Laveau (Maaries Glafasiasse born Laveau) died at age 98 at
her home at 152 St. Ann St. on June 15, 1881, of diarrhea. When I’m next in New Orleans I plan to
find out some more and add to my collection.
Love,
Dave
Sources: www.voodooneworleans.com; www.voodooonthebayou.net; www.wikipedia.org ("Louisiana Voodoo",
"Gris-gris")
No comments:
Post a Comment