Haitian voodooists consider there to be life after death. They believe that each person has a soul that has both a gros bon Ange (big good angel) and a ti Bon Ange (little good angel).
When someone dies, the soul core hovers near the corpse for seven to nine days. During this time, the ti bon ange is vulnerable and can be caught and turned into what’s called a ‘spiritual zombie’ by a sorcerer. If the soul is then not captured, the priest or priestess performs a ritual called ‘nine night’ to sever the soul from the body so the soul may live in the dark waters for a year and a day. If this is not done, the ti bon ange may wander the earth and bring misfortune on others.
After the year and a day, the relatives of the deceased perform the rite of reclamation to raise the dead’s soul essence and store it in a clay jar know as a govi. They have a belief that each person’s life experiences can be passed through generations of family and community, which compels Haitians to appeal the spirit of the deceased. It can then temporarily possess a family member, priest (houngan), or priestess (mambo) to inform any last words of wisdom.
The ultimate reason for death rituals in the vodoun culture is to send the gros bon ange to ginen, the cosmic community of ancestral spirits, where it will be worshipped by family members as a loa itself. Once the final ritual is done, the spirit is free to stand among the rocks and trees until rebirth. Sixteen incarnations later, spirits merge into the cosmic energy.
Here are some other behaviours that the associate with death in the Haitian culture:
-When death is near, the whole family will gather to pray, cry and use their religious medallions or other spiritual artifacts. Family and friends spend considerable effort to be present when death is near.
-Haitians prefer to die at home but the hospital is also acceptable.
-The moment of death is marked by ritual wailing among family members, friends, and neighbours.
-Funerals last for several days of social interaction and the drinking of lots of rum.
-Burial monuments are usually large and are very costly.
When someone dies, the soul core hovers near the corpse for seven to nine days. During this time, the ti bon ange is vulnerable and can be caught and turned into what’s called a ‘spiritual zombie’ by a sorcerer. If the soul is then not captured, the priest or priestess performs a ritual called ‘nine night’ to sever the soul from the body so the soul may live in the dark waters for a year and a day. If this is not done, the ti bon ange may wander the earth and bring misfortune on others.
After the year and a day, the relatives of the deceased perform the rite of reclamation to raise the dead’s soul essence and store it in a clay jar know as a govi. They have a belief that each person’s life experiences can be passed through generations of family and community, which compels Haitians to appeal the spirit of the deceased. It can then temporarily possess a family member, priest (houngan), or priestess (mambo) to inform any last words of wisdom.
The ultimate reason for death rituals in the vodoun culture is to send the gros bon ange to ginen, the cosmic community of ancestral spirits, where it will be worshipped by family members as a loa itself. Once the final ritual is done, the spirit is free to stand among the rocks and trees until rebirth. Sixteen incarnations later, spirits merge into the cosmic energy.
Here are some other behaviours that the associate with death in the Haitian culture:
-When death is near, the whole family will gather to pray, cry and use their religious medallions or other spiritual artifacts. Family and friends spend considerable effort to be present when death is near.
-Haitians prefer to die at home but the hospital is also acceptable.
-The moment of death is marked by ritual wailing among family members, friends, and neighbours.
-Funerals last for several days of social interaction and the drinking of lots of rum.
-Burial monuments are usually large and are very costly.