|
The
people of New Orleans feared nothing more than the dreaded Voodoo
curse! It is the worst of all fates. Evil magic in other parts of the
country paled in comparison. It is human nature to fear what we do not
understand.
Tour Highlights:
 |
Explore the mystical
world of Voodoo in New Orleans. |
|
|
You'll hear Stories
about practitioners and VooDoo legends. |
|
|
Visit real Voodoo
altars & an authentic New Orleans Voodoo shop. |
|
|
The nighttime Voodoo
Tour is educational and historical. |
|
|
This New Orleans Voodoo
Tour blends history, fact, fiction and folklore. |
|
|
Find out about real
Witchcraft & New Orleans Voodoo spells!
|
The roots of Voodoo have been traced all the way back to Africa before 1100 AD.
 Voodoo
religion is based on one main supreme deity and several demi-gods called
loas or lwas. The loas are much to Voodoo as the Saints are to
Catholicism. Each one serving a specific purpose. It is estimated that by
the 1750s, 30,000 slaves a year were being immigrated into Haiti bringing
with them the Voodoo religion. The word Voodoo means Gods or Spirits. They
believed that these spirits had the ability to enter the worshippers. This
was believed to be a valuable experience, warding off illness and
misfortune.
New Orleans is stock full of folk tales of Voodoo practitioners who can
transform into animals or cause animals to invade others. Rather than
transforming into wolves, the Voodouns are generally reported as becoming
cats. One can only assume that much of the legends that have arisen in New
Orleans were spawned by fear and superstition. It is human nature to fear
what we do not understand. Voodoo could be perhaps, one of the most
misunderstood religions that have ever existed.
The first Voodoo Queen in New Orleans was Saint DeDe, from Santo Domingo
who bought her way to freedom in New Orleans. She would hold rituals in
her courtyard, just blocks away from the Cathedral. Her drums could be
heard during mass! In 1817, the Catholic church decided, all other
religions must not practice within the city limits.
Marie Laveau was a hairdresser who, in 1826 became intrigued with
the first New Orleans Voodoo Queen, Sanite DeDe. She began to study herbs
and the secrets of the Voodoo religion. In spite of her attraction to
Voodoo, she never abandoned her Catholic roots. She saw similarities
between the two, particularly, between the Voodoo Loas and the Saints.
Both demi-gods under one Supreme Being, each having a specific purpose.
She incorporated the use of candles and Holy Water in Voodoo rituals. It
was because of this blending of religions that the White Creole Catholics
began to find Voodoo a bit more palatable.
She retired as Queen in 1875. Although throughout her reign she was feared
by many, when she died at the age of 98 in 1881, many people believed she
was a saint. She is buried in St. Louis Cemetery # 1. Thousands of
visitors flock to her grave site each year to make a wish or give thanks
for wishes granted.
Enjoy this Famous New Orleans Voodoo Tour and explore the mystical
world of Voodoo in New Orleans. You'll hear Stories about
practitioners, visit real Voodoo altars & an authentic New Orleans Voodoo
shop. This New Orleans Voodoo Tour blends history, fact, fiction and
folklore together for an unforgettable experience. Voodoo could be perhaps
one of the most misunderstood religions that have ever existed.
Careful...
This nighttime tour just might bring out the Voodoo in you! |
