The so-called traditional religions
Catholicism is widespread and in the majority in Cajun country and New Orleans. The latter boasts the oldest cathedral in the United States, St. Louis Cathedral. Before Americanization, it wasn't fashionable to display a religious affiliation other than Catholic. Protestants were despised by Creoles, and the Jewish religion was totally forbidden. A clause in the Code Noir, put in place to regulate the slave population, stated that any Jew would be expelled from the territory. Spanish missionaries introduced Catholicism in the early 16th century, and many were killed trying to convert the natives. The Jesuits, Capuchin monks and Ursulines were the orders most present in Louisiana. Until the cession of Louisiana by France, Catholicism was the only authorized religion.
After leading several prayer groups since 1804, Joseph Willis, a Métis preacher, established the first Baptist church in 1812, in the Lafayette area. In 1806, in the Opelousas region, the first Methodist church in the state was established. The first Episcopal church was built in New Orleans in 1805, a Methodist church in 1813, a Presbyterian church in 1817, a synagogue in 1828 and a Baptist church in 1834. After the Civil War, blacks, no longer able to attend white churches, set up their own religious groups, mainly Baptists and Methodists.
Hundreds of adults learned to read and write with the nuns, who for years were allowed to take public transport free of charge in recognition of their dedication to teaching. Louisiana's civil code, based on the Napoleonic Code, is influenced by Catholic education, especially when it comes to family rules. Friday is still fish day in many homes. Lent is still a difficult period for restaurateurs, who are short of customers at this time. Catholic, Baptist and tutti quanti schools still exist. Louisianans in general have developed a tolerance for gambling and alcohol, not seeing it as a vice leading them down the road to perdition. As a result, in New Orleans, live and let live is an attitude that is unique among American cities.
Today, places of worship remain regularly frequented and very lively. It's worth remembering that gospel music has its roots in Louisiana and is the rhythm of most religious ceremonies
Voodoo
Voodoo originated in the ancient kingdom of Dahomey (southern part of present-day Benin), was also widespread in Ghana, Togo and Nigeria, and was brought to Louisiana by slaves. Voodoo means "spirit world". Stemming from African animist cults, the entire religion is based on the fact that people live in a world where spirits, present everywhere, control their actions.
There are many misconceptions about voodoo, not least that it is evil. Hollywood is largely to blame. Voodoo dolls, for example, were not originally used for evil, but rather for healing. Needles were inserted into a doll representing the sick person, and when they were removed, the evil disappeared. It is estimated that 90% of voodoo practitioners are benefactors, while only 10% are thought to be malicious. Voodoo believes that every good or bad deed has repercussions. Hence, in the end, there are few so-called "evil" practices.
Among the great particularities of Voodoo, we are particularly interested in theVoodoo Queen, who, at the time of slavery and the arrival of Voodoo in Louisiana, had to be a free woman of color and never a slave. The rules imposed by whites could not apply to her. The character of the zombie is also regularly featured, notably in "Li Grand Zombi", a god represented by a dancing man. Zombies first appeared in Haiti, where it was customary to poison criminals with plants. When they appeared dead, they were buried and then dug up 24 hours later by administering an antidote. They were then resurrected, but the adventure had cost them part of their brain - a lobotomy before its time, as it were. These poor zombies were then employed in the hardest jobs.
Contrary to what one might think, the voodoo religion has many connections with Catholicism: Ishu, for example, is the guardian of the vows of duality (good and evil), in much the same way as Saint Peter is the guardian of the keys to paradise. The snake is a very important animal, symbolizing the same duality (good and evil) that is life. 3 is the sacred number: the good and evil you do will be multiplied by three.
New Orleans has always lived to the rhythm of voodoo ceremonies. Blacks practiced their strange dances in Congo Square, close to the St. Louis cemetery. Even today, this is where you'll find the most information about this religion. In the rest of Louisiana, if the practices exist at all, they're almost invisible to outsiders. With the exception of a few voodoo houses, barricaded with crosses and rosaries, you won't see any signs of it.
If you take a guided tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, you'll see several voodoo graves, marked with crosses and covered with offerings. The best known is that of Marie Laveau, a mulatto born in 1794, who became the most famous voodoo priestess - and businesswoman - in the city's history. She sold love potions, poisons and gris-gris to blacks and whites, rich and poor, and held ritual dances in her garden (1020 St. Ann Street: ceremonies are still held there today). Marie Laveau died around 1891 and was buried in St. Louis Cemetery no. 1 as "Widow Paris". In the 1920s-1930s, the fashionable voodoo priestess was Amanda Dorsey Boswell Carroll.
Today, it's difficult to know who holds the power to communicate with spirits, as people don't readily admit their beliefs, yet over 15% of the population practice the voodoo religion. The milieu is very closed to the uninitiated, but you can attend a ceremony on November1st (the Feast of the Dead) if... you're invited. For more in-depth information, we recommend the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum in the French Quarter or the Voodoo Spiritual Temple, also in New Orleans, where a priestess regularly performs enchantments. There are also a number of specialized stores in the city where you can find a wide range of ingredients and listen to explanations of voodoo practices. We also recommend reading Robert Tallant's Voodoo in New Orleans, first published in 1946 by the Louisiana-based Pelican Publishing Company. This little paperback tells the whole story of voodoo in the city, deconstructing the legends and attempting to shed some light on practices that are still highly secretive.
Spirituality among Aboriginal people
Before the arrival of the first European settlers in the 17th century, the various Indian tribes who inhabited the territory practiced their own spirituality. These advocated harmony and interdependence between all forms of life, the so-called great circle of life. Food, for example, was seen as a gift from the animal spirits, and was considered sacred. Meals were accompanied by rituals, songs and drumbeats, and ended with a thanksgiving dance.
Aboriginal spirituality is mainly based on animism, the belief in a spirit or vital force that animates living beings, objects and natural elements, as well as in protective genies. Native legends still circulating today often make reference to this.
The fascinating cemeteries of New Orleans
The city's cemeteries have their own history. A visit to these cities of the dead provides an insight into the history of the city and the French presence. Victims of famine and epidemic, the rich, the poor and politicians were buried close together. The Archdiocese of New Orleans runs most of these cemeteries. The oldest are surrounded by a wall, while the newest are completely open. The first cemeteries were built just outside the city. The marshy soil made it impossible to bury people in the ground, so all tombs were built above ground. Because of the limited space available, families often owned a crypt for several generations. Some vaults and mausoleums are true works of architectural art in every style. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, at Basin and St. Louis streets on the edge of the French Quarter, was built in 1789 and houses the ashes of New Orleans pioneers, including the first mayor, Étienne de Boré (1741-1820). Due to a number of incidents of vandalism against the graves of voodoo celebrities (such as Marie Laveau), since 2015 this cemetery has only been accessible with a guide (advance booking recommended). For more information on the cemeteries of the Archdiocese of New Orleans: nolacatholiccemeteries.org/historic-cemeteries
