Voodoo :: essays research papers fc

voodooFon is spoken by over half the people of Benin and it is the mother tongueof voodoo. In Fon the descent word for voodoo is vodoun that means spirit or god.Voodoo had its origins over 350 years ago in West Africa. In situation Allada, asmall town in Benin, is often called the cradle of voodoo. In 1996, Januarytenth became National Voodoo Day in honor of its followers that nominate up 65% ofBenin population.The faith juju was a by-product of the hard worker trade. This Yorubanreligion was carried to Haiti in a slave trade from Dahomey, which is currentlycalled Benin. once in Haiti, the slaves were forced to adopt Catholicism.Desiring to keep their native practices, the slaves continued to effect theirrituals in private. They transposed Catholic saints onto the tribal deities,called loa, to please their owners. Instead of keep the faith of theslaves, the incorporation of the saints added something new to their religion.Because of this they included into their rituals sta tues of the saints, candles,and other Christian relics. It is combinations resembling this that form religionssuch as Santeria, a blend of Voodoo and Spanish Catholicism, that proves what amalleable religion it is. Voodoo has spread throughout the homo into majorcommunities on Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans, Miami, and New York city. Vodounhas as many another(prenominal) as 50 million followers throughout the conception now.Although varieties of this religion occur in different regions there aresome base tenets common among them. They all call back that the pulse of liferesides in natures elements exchangeable fire or wind. This force is also in union withthe utter and thus fosters a belief that they should be respected through rituals.They believe that all things are the creation of the loa, and at the same time dissever of the lao and are to be servants to them. The loa take part in our worldand act as intermediaries between human being and the higher god, Bodye. Thepractitio ners of Vodoun believe that when a soul dies it become a sprit or loa.These enliven often posses the living during rituals. When possessed thebeliever dances, offers animal sacrifices, falls into a trance, or may evendisappear. When these rituals are performed a group (societe) come in concert ina sanctuary (hounfort) where they are revolved around a priest (hougan) orpriestess (mamba). These societes are crucial in the structure inwardly smallHaitian villages. They are positive forces in establishing communal coherenceand over-riding gender barriers.For whatever good is served, Voodoo can also transport evil.