The Importance Of Voodoo In Haiti

Rachael Clenney

Mr. Rafalowski

English Comp II

2 December 2015

Hoodoo Da’ Voodoo: Da’ Haitians

Edwidge Danticat’s short story, “A Wall of Fire Rising” is about a woman whose family lives in Haiti and follows some Voodoo principles. An article by A to Z World Culture lists some of the denominations commonly found in Haiti, “Roman Catholics comprise 55 percent of the population, Baptists 8 percent, Pentecostals 3 percent, Adventists 2 percent, and Methodists a little over 1 percent” (Religion). Voodoo is the most practiced religion in haiti, with Christianity at a close second. While some people think of voodoo as just dolls, spirits, and witches, the Columbian Encyclopedia defines it this way, “Voodoo contends that all of nature is controlled

by spiritual forces which must be acknowledged and honored through offerings and animal sacrifice; ecstatic trances (a means of communicating with the gods and spirits) and magical practices play an important role in its ritual” (Voodoo). Some Haitians believe in both Christianity and Voodoo. The religion originated in West Africa but was brought to Haiti and other countries as a result of slave trading during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (Overview of Voodoo). Disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, have only intensified the Haitians desire for a Higher Power, thus seeking comfort in the spiritual world of Voodoo.
Roughly 70% of the population of Haiti follows and practices Christian beliefs, the most common of denominations being Catholicism (Religion in Haiti).

One might find many religions, denominations, and supernatural belief systems in Haiti, while nearly 10% of the population follows no religion at all. Approximately 2% of the population reports Voodoo to be their primary religion, however, close to 50% of the population practices Voodoo along with Christianity (Religion in Haiti). Haiti is the oldest black republic in the world; it’s the only country ever established by a nationwide rebellion of slaves. The Voodoo practice and religion gave the slaves hope that they will survive the New World. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Voodoo was introduced to the natives of Haiti where it flourished and became the most favored religion of Haitians to date. Voodoo was brought to Haiti by slaves from areas of West Africa now known as Benin and Congo, where the religion is practiced by nearly 60% of the population (Voodoo). The religion quickly blossomed in areas of oppression on the island of Hispaniola. The natives were able to outstand wars, revolutions, and natural disasters for over five centuries because of their faith in the spirits. The voodoo belief system has also helped the Haitians through slavery issues and the progression towards becoming free men and women. Another form of magic was introduced in African American communities in the United States named “hoodoo” (Pettinger, Alasdair). It had different types of magic and witchcraft than the original Voodoo, but still the same principles. Souvenance is a small town located in a valley about 100 miles north of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, and is where they hold an annual Easter festival attracting thousands to the culture, spirit, and spiritual rituals of Vodou (commonly called Voodoo outside of Haiti). Souvenance, Haiti is where the most important Vodou sanctuary is located. The

worshippers in Souvenance often celebrate with dancing, singing, drumming, collective baths, and the sacrificing of cattle and goats. Haitians have united some principles of Voodoo and Christianity to make it more fitting to their needs through, dances chants, and rituals. Haitians view Voodoo as more of a means of survival, rather than a relationship with God as Christians do.
Voodoo has gotten a reputation for being all about pins in dolls, zombies, and magical spells practiced by African witches, specifically in Haiti. Although, the Voodoo belief is most commonly found in Haiti, they do not stick pins in dolls nor do they practice black magic. The religion of Voodoo is a mesh between African and Catholic beliefs practiced in both American and Caribbean countries. They also do not refer to their religion as “Voodoo.” Haitians call this religion “Vodou.” Until the 1880s, Americans and other countries where English is spoken commonly called the religion “Vaudoux.” After the 1880s, the religion became commonly known as “voodoo” ( While Catholicism is still the most common denomination in Haiti, there has been a noticeable decline over the past few years due to an increase in Protestant missionary activity. The Bureau of Religious Affairs is often dispatched to mediate between Protestant and Voodoo groups fighting and disagreeing, most commonly over land feuds or conversions between the two groups. Many Protestants and non-believers have pegged Voodoo believers as superstitious. Catholic clergy and Voodoo priests are held in high respect and given much authority in the Haitian society. Most Christians are monotheistic, meaning they believe one true God. They also have Trinitarian beliefs meaning they believe that God is one person and He also has three forms: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Most non-Catholic Christians believe one’s faith in God and devoted time in the Word of God are the way to Salvation. However, Roman Catholics believe Church teachings and sacraments to be just as vital in one’s relationship with Christ. The Voodoo belief admits one true God, but also worships and praises local, ancestral, and tutelary deities and saints. These gods communicate with believers through dreams, trances, and ritual possessions. While most Haitians serve Iwa (the Haitian name for African spirits), they also consider themselves to be Catholic. Haitians often combine the Voodoo beliefs and Catholic beliefs to serve their own religious desires and needs. One thing that Voodoo has in common with other better-known religions is the belief of spiritual possessions. In an article entitled, “Voodoo: It’s Not What You Think” the author tells us that many people who practice Voodoo believe that the Iwa ride the people they possess like horses, thus occasionally being referred to as “divine horseman” (Cosentino, Donald). When a horseman possesses someone, the person begins speaking and acting like the Iwa. The worshipper usually has no recollection of the experience after it has occurred. This experience is extremely demanding of the worshipper and normally only occurs after an elaborate initiation. Children do not experience such possessions. Voodoo has been vital in shaping Haiti and its natives into who they are today.
An underground Voodoo service being held in 1791 is where the Haiti Revolution began and when slaves decided to stand up for themselves, according to Cosentino in “VOODOO: It’s Not What You Think.” This revolution was commenced with an African religious ceremony in which a pig was slaughtered and the worshippers began drinking its blood. The Voodoo high priest, Boukman, sounded the drums of rebellion to begin the revolt to end slavery. Voodoo became suppressed during this time because when the revolution began, the nation declared Catholicism as the official religion. The attempted suppression failed when Haitians began intertwining their Catholic beliefs with that of the Voodoo religion. Haitians were drawing connections between the rituals and many of the Iwa were recognizable with the Christian saints. Even though there are many legends of Voodoo involving sacrifice and cannibalism, there is no evidence to support these claims. The revolt ended in 1804 when about five-hundred-thousand slaves were freed.
An earthquake on January 12, 2010, took roughly 300,000 lives of Haitians, missionaries, and tourist. The earthquake was magnitude 7.0 and for hours, even days, after the quake, the community felt aftershocks. One article, “Haiti Earthquake of 2010,” stats that following this devastation, Haitians found comfort in Voodoo rituals and ceremonies that had been forgotten from their childhood. Voodoo ceremonies became more frequent by the demand of the worshippers.