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What sort of voodoo do they do in New Orleans?

New Orleans Voodoo is a spiritual practice in which followers seek to understand and change the universe and world around them. Its roots are in the West African religion Voudou and it came about when slaves who were taken from the continent modified their practices so owners' would not know that they were still holding onto their beliefs.

Owners feared some of the mysticism associated with Voudou so slaves picked up on elements of Catholicism similar Voudou and incorporated it into the religion. In Voudou, there is one central God with spirits called Loa beneath God. Roman Catholics often pray to Saints for ntercession with God and believe that they have a special relationship with Him. New Orleans Voodoo contains elements of both religions as Loa were given the names and attributes of Saints and Catholic verses and liturgy became part of the oral stories and history of the religion.

Though Voodoo is sometimes associated with Satanism, the Devil is actually a part of the Christian faith and not recognized in Voudou. The Loa beneath God, however, can be mischievous or ill-tempered which leads to the fallacy that Voodoo involves worshiping evil entities.

Though New Orleans plays up the Voodoo culture by selling kitschy rag dolls at tourist shops, there is a true presence in the town, with an estimated 15% of the population practicing the religion. Members of other religious groups can also be proponents of Voodoo and many Voodoo followers are also devout Catholics. The famous “Voodoo Queen of New Orleans,” Marie Laveau, attended Mass daily and held rituals behind St. Louis Cathedral.

Anyone looking for an out-of-this world experience may want to attend the upcoming Voodoo Music Fest during the last weekend in October but there are ways to learn about Voodoo at any time during the year. They include:

Voodoo/Cemetery Tour: The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum takes you through haunted houses, a Voodoo pharmacy, a Catholic Church that holds the remains of a Voodoo Saint and introduces real life practitioners.

Location: 724 Dumaine Street, New Orleans, LA 70116
Phone: 504.680.0128

Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans.

Stay informed on special offers, events, and  happenings at the Maison de Ville and The Bistro.

Tour of the Undead: This adults-only tour takes place in the evening and explores the city’s darker side. A chaperone gives guests a “gris-gris” bag for protection before taking them through haunted houses and bringing them to a Voodoo ceremony.

Location: 724 Dumaine Street,
New Orleans, LA 70116
Phone: 504/680.0128

Voodoo Spiritual Center: Visit this shop and peruse crafts, voodoo dolls, mojo jars and fertility charms.

Location: 828 N. Rampart Street
New Orleans, LA 70116
Phone: 504/522-9627

Haunted History Tour: If you’re skeptical as to some of the supernatural legends surrounding New Orleans, take this tour and explore the truth behind voodoo and vampire legends. A companion to the book “New Orleans Ghosts, Voodoo & Vampires,”  this is an entertaining walk into the unknown.

Location: 97 Fontainebleau Dr. New Orleans
Phone: 504-861-2727