What is Voodoo?

Voodoo is a religious belief based on the Africans who first brought Voodoo from West Africa to Haiti when they were slaves. It is a fact that Voodoo is one of our world’s most ancient religions that has been practiced. It is estimated that Voodoo is over ten thousand years old. In the United States we use the term "Voodoo" rather than the other terms such as (Voudoun, Vodou, or Vaudou) . We use this term Voodoo as it is the American spelling. We use the other terms referring to Voodoo when speaking of a more Haitian practice or Voodoo.

The word "voodoo" originates from the West African word "Vodun," which means spirit. Voodoo started being known in the West during the slave trading days. In the West people tend to relate Voodoo practice with voodoo dolls in which you stick pins into. Voodoo is a very important factor of a particular family life in any community which practices Voodoo ceremonies. Voodoo ceremonies usually involve some kind of prayers, participants dancing and special Voodoo rituals. Voodoo dancing is ones way to connect with the high spirits and as well as the spirit world.
Sometimes Voodoo ceremonies include animal sacrifices during the ritual. Voodoo spirits of wealth, nature and happiness possess the bodies of believers at the ceremony.

The basic beliefs of Voodoo is that everything in this world is somehow connected. It is believed that nothing happens by chance in this universe, and it is also believed that there are no accidents. The one that has a big influence is the high priest, he/she, when asked to, gives spiritual advice to others. She or he is also referred to as a special healer. The high priest practices Voodoo with unique herbs and special medicines.. All of the knowledge that the high priestess has is usually passed down from generations before them.

Ones who practice Voodoo usually use Voodoo spells as part of their voodoo practices. These voodoo spells are mainly used to evoke good things rather than harm. There are many different kinds of Voodoo spells such as spells to get a lost love back , healing spells for the sick and voodoo spells just to celebrate happiness. Harmful Voodoo spells also known as Black magic was mainly founded by the Europeans. The Europeans did not trust anything that was African.

Voodoo is practiced in a large amount of countries around our world as a religion. In Brazil Voodoo is called Candomble. Obeah is what Voodoo is called in the Caribbean. In the year of 2003, the Haitian government approved Voodoo as an official religion in Haiti. So now Voodoo believers can now be married and baptized into the Voodoo religion. In Haiti there are tons of people who believe in the religion Voodoo.

Voodoo is also practiced in New Orleans Louisiana.