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That Old Black Magic: Voodoo And More in Louisiana

Louisiana Voodoo or New Orleans Voodoo is not to be confused with Haitian Voodou or Hoodoo, though elements of the latter are sometimes involved. Voodoo did, however, originate in Africa, brought over via the slave trade. Voodoo is considered an ecstatic religion with an oral tradition. That is, it has no sacred canon or religious texts. But, just as in many other religions, personal beliefs vary. The word Voodoo comes from the word Vodoun from the Fon language, which means god. Although Voodoo is commonly associated with black magic, that is actually a confusion with Hoodoo. In reality, Voodoo has more similarity to earth religions such as Wicca. Superstitions and spells do play a large part in traditional Voodoo however. Most well-known of these is probably the Voodoo Doll, or gris-gris. It is essentially a form of talisman, which can bring bad luck or good luck, depending on how it’s used. Voodoo Queens are also popular figures in Louisiana Voodoo. They are essentially priestesses or shamans, though they frequently act as oracles as well. Marie Laveau is a famous Voodoo Queen who lived in New Orleans in the 1830s. She is still a popular figure today.