History UsefulNotes / Voudoun

** Also known as Ezili Freda, Maitresse Mambo Erzulie Freda Dahomey. The very popular lwa of love, beauty and wealth. [[ButNotTooBlack She is light-skinned and beautiful, with long, fair hair]]. She demands the finest things, yet it is never enough. She ends up in tears because all the finery cannot make up for the pain and imperfection of the world. She is thus syncretized with the Mater Dolorosa. She likes jewelry, perfume, pink champagne, white or pink cakes, fine chocolate, and rice pudding. In some traditions, she is the patron of gay men. She is a powerful mambo (priestess) and can destroy any evil magic (ouanga) by her mere presence.

* OurZombiesAreDifferent: The word ''zombie'' is derived from the Vodou traditions, which can refer to the spirits of the dead or the classical VoodooZombie, a dead husk that has been [[AnimateDead reanimated]] to serve nefarious purposes. Zombies in Voudoun represent the popular cultural anxiety around [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil slavery]], in a country where before the Haitian Revolution, almost fifty percent of slaves brought in from Africa were worked to death within a few years, which led only to the capture and import of more.

* TopGod: Vodouisants believe in one true {{God}} called Bondye (also called Gran Mèt), who is [[TheMaker the Creator of the Universe]]. The lwa, as seen by their numerous personalities, natures, and differences are merely intermediaries of Bondye and are called ''le miste'' or the Mysteries.

* RedOniBlueOni: Rada Nation loas are noted to be sweet-tempered and cool, whereas the Petro loas are noted to be volatile and hot.

* ReligionIsMagic: Vodouisants utilize GeometricMagic through ''veves'' which are mystical diagrams traced with some kind of powder that represents a lwa or the lwa. They are usually traced with cornmeal or ashes.

** The the Haitian Penal Code Article 249 takes cognizance of zombis and the mechanism by which a living human can be made into one.

An African diaspora religion that comes in two major flavors: Haitian Vodou (also Vodun or Voudoun) and Louisiana Voodoo. Both derive from West UsefulNotes/{{Africa|}}n Dahomeyan [[Myth/AfricanMythology religions]], along with Lucumi/Santeria, Umbanda, Candomble, and similar beliefs, which share certain similarities. The slave trade brought these beliefs to the New World, where they became syncretized with the [[UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} Catholicism]] and [[UsefulNotes/FrenchLanguage Francophone]] culture of the slave owners, with a little Native American and Caribbean influence where applicable.

Some key points in Vodou:

Prominent lwa:

[[caption-width-right:350:The veve[[note]]summoning sigil[[/note]] of Baron Samedi]] African diaspora religion which comes in two major flavors: Haitian Vodou (also Vodun or Voudoun) and Louisiana Voodoo. Both derive from West UsefulNotes/{{Africa|}}n Dahomeyan [[Myth/AfricanMythology religions]], along with Lucumi/Santeria, Umbanda, Candomble, and similar beliefs, which share certain similarities. The slave trade brought these beliefs to the New World, where they became syncretized with the [[UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} Catholicism]] and [[UsefulNotes/FrenchLanguage Francophone]] culture of the slave owners, with a little Native American and Caribbean influence where applicable.

[[caption-width-right:350:The veve[[note]]summoning sigil[[/note]] of Baron Samedi]] African diaspora religion which comes in two major flavors: Haitian Vodou (also Vodun or Voudoun) and UsefulNotes/NewOrleans Voodoo. Both derive from West UsefulNotes/{{Africa|}}n Dahomeyan [[Myth/AfricanMythology religions]], along with Lucumi/Santeria, Umbanda, Candomble, and similar beliefs, which share certain similarities. The slave trade brought these beliefs to the New World, where they became syncretized with the [[UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} Catholicism]] and [[UsefulNotes/FrenchLanguage Francophone]] culture of the slave owners, with a little Native American and Caribbean influence where applicable.

** The Baron is famous as the fearsome keeper of the dead, but also presides over sex and resurrection. Since no one can die until the Baron accepts him or her, he is often asked for intercession in grievous injury or illness, especially that of children. He appears in formal black tails and top-hat, with a skull for a face, or with his face painted to resemble a skull. He wears smoked glasses with one lens popped out, to keep an eye on his offerings and to see in the world of the living and the dead, and smokes cigars. He drinks rum with 21 hot peppers steeped in it. He and the dead, which are called the Ghede, are known for being disruptive, crude, and overtly sexual, because the dead have no need for mortal inhibitions. He can also provide information, advice, and help to those who need it and ask. He is married to Maman Brigitte, but still chases after mortal women. He is often invoked in magical workings for his great power. The Baron is often thought of in connection with Black Magic, but there are other lwa for that purpose.

[[caption-width-right:350:The veve[[note]]summoning sigil[[/note]] of Baron Samedi]] African diaspora religion which comes in two major flavors: Haitian Vodou (also Vodun or Voudoun) and UsefulNotes/NewOrleans Voodoo. Both derive from West UsefulNotes/{{Africa|}}n Dahomeyan [[Myth/AfricanMythology religions]], along with Lucumi/Santeria, Umbanda, Candomble, and similar beliefs, which share certain similarities. The slave trade brought these beliefs to the New World, where they became syncretized with the Catholicism and [[UsefulNotes/FrenchLanguage Francophone]] culture of the slave owners, with a little Native American and Caribbean influence where applicable.

[[caption-width-right:350:The veve[[note]]summoning sigil[[/note]] of Baron Samedi]] African diaspora religion which comes in two major flavors: Haitian Vodou (also Vodun or Voudoun) and UsefulNotes/NewOrleans Voodoo. Both derive from West UsefulNotes/{{Africa|n}} Dahomeyan [[Myth/AfricanMythology religions]], along with Lucumi/Santeria, Umbanda, Candomble, and similar beliefs, which share certain similarities. The slave trade brought these beliefs to the New World, where they became syncretized with the Catholicism and [[UsefulNotes/FrenchLanguage Francophone]] culture of the slave owners, with a little Native American and Caribbean influence where applicable.

[[caption-width-right:350:The veve[[note]]summoning sigil[[/note]] of Baron Samedi]] African diaspora religion which comes in two major flavors: Haitian Vodou (also Vodun or Voudoun) and UsefulNotes/NewOrleans Voodoo. Both derive from West African Dahomeyan religions, along with Lucumi/Santeria, Umbanda, Candomble, and similar beliefs, which share certain similarities. The slave trade brought these beliefs to the New World, where they became syncretized with the Catholicism and Francophone culture of the slave owners, with a little Native American and Caribbean influence where applicable.

** The Baron is famous as the fearsome keeper of the dead, but also presides over sex and resurrection. Since no-one can die until the Baron accepts him or her, he is often asked for intercession in grievous injury or illness, especially that of children. He appears in formal black tails and top-hat, with a skull for a face, or with his face painted to resemble a skull. He wears smoked glasses with one lens popped out, to keep an eye on his offerings and to see in the world of the living and the dead, and smokes cigars. He drinks rum with 21 hot peppers steeped in it. He and the dead, which are called the Ghede, are known for being disruptive, crude, and overtly sexual, because the dead have no need for mortal inhibitions. He can also provide information, advice, and help to those who need it and ask. He is married to Maman Brigitte, but still chases after mortal women. He is often invoked in magical workings for his great power. The Baron is often thought of in connection with Black Magic, but there are other lwa for that purpose.

** The Ogou are technically a family of lwa. The Ogou are warriors, although they also have peaceful applications as craftsmen, metalworkers, field medics, and diplomats. According to some accounts he was the first of the lwa sent into the physical universe by Bondye to choose a suitable planet for Him create life on. Had a physical body at one point but it eventually died and his spirit now inhabits the Earth itself. One of the more well known lwa outside the Afro-Caribbean community thanks to making several appearances in the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' series of video games, most notably the first ''{{VideoGame/Persona}}''.

* There is a TopGod of the "God of Gods" variety, Bondye (Bon Dieu, the "good god"), but he is far removed and does not intercede in mortal affairs.

* There is a supreme creator god, Bondye (Bon Dieu, the "good god"), but he is far removed and does not intercede in mortal affairs.
* Vodouisants serve the lwa, but they do not worship them. Worship is reserved only for Bondye. The lwa in turn serve Bondye and can communicate with mortals.

** Also known as Atibon Legba, or as Elegba, Ellegua or Exu in Yoruba or Santeria. Legba is the [[AtTheCrossroads keeper of the crossroads]] and the opener of roads. He must be invoked before speaking with any other lwa, as he opens the gate to let them through. He is a master of communication, and sometimes a trickster. Usually appears as an old, bent black man with a cane, a straw hat, a satchel, and a corncob pipe. Often he is depicted with twisted limbs or covered in sores. He wears a large ring of keys, to open any door. Has a fondness for rum, tobacco, and candy. He is syncretized with St. Anthony. This lwa is a large part of the reason that in the Southern US the traditional place to make a DealWithTheDevil is at the crossroads, as in HollywoodVoodoo Legba is frequently [[HijackedByJesus Hijacked By Satan]].

African diaspora religion which comes in two major flavors: Haitian Vodou (also Vodun or Voudoun) and UsefulNotes/NewOrleans Voodoo. Both derive from West African Dahomeyan religions, along with Lucumi/Santeria, Umbanda, Candomble, and similar beliefs, which share certain similarities. The slave trade brought these beliefs to the New World, where they became syncretized with the Catholicism and Francophone culture of the slave owners, with a little Native American and Caribbean influence where applicable.

African diaspora religion which comes in two major flavors: Haitian Vodou (also Vodun or Voudoun) and UsefulNotes/NewOrleans Voodoo. Both derive from West African Dahomeyan religions, along with Lucumi/Santeria, Umbanda, Candomble, and similar beliefs, which share certain similarities. The slave trade brought these beliefs to the New World, where they became syncretized with the Catholicism and Francophone culture of the slave owners, with a little Native American influence where applicable.