| Haitian Vodou, contrary to popular thought, is not about voodoo dolls and
zombies. It is a religion with deep and ancient roots in Africa. The religion is
based on the concept of respect: respect for God, the lwa (the spirits), the
community, the family, the individual, and above all, self-respect. Hand in hand
with respect for the living goes respect for the dead.
The
dead, generally speaking, fall into three categories: ancestral spirits, Gede
(incl. the Barons and Maman Brigitte), and those restless and mischievous
(occasionally malevolent) dead that can cause problems. The ancestral spirits
refer to our personal, familial dead. The term Gede often is used to include the
Barons, the best known of which are LaCroix, Samedi, and Cemetiere and Maman
Brigitte who are the father(s) and mother of the Gede. The Gede give voice to
the unknown or forgotten dead. Halloween marks the beginning of Gede time
in the Vodou. This is a time when the Barons, Maman Brigitte, and the Gede are honored with
parties throughout Haiti. Much like the Mexican Day of the Dead, Fete Gede
is a time to remember the dead and to remember that we, one day, will be
among them.
Many people involved in the Vodou, particularly here in the US, choose Gede
time, October – November, to honor their ancestors as well as to deal with the
Gede. Here in the US, many of us have few formal ways to remember our ancestors.
In the past, it was customary is South Louisiana to go to church on All Saints
Day (Nov. 1) and then to go to the cemetery to white wash the mausoleums of
loved ones. These traditions have largely fallen by the wayside even in such
tradition-bound places as New Orleans.
In addition to our annual remembrance rituals falling away over time, our
funeral rites have been shortened to fit into our all too busy lifestyle. Once
again, even in New Orleans where tradition tends to be the norm for most
families, the traditional wake of at least one day and night of mourning before
the funeral and burial has started to give way to a couple hours of viewing
before the funeral. In the US, the funeral simply signifies the end of the life
of the person rather than the transition to a different and important spiritual
state. After the funeral we can all get back to our real and busy lives.
The funeral process in the US no longer allows the individuals directly
affected by the death nor the community as a whole an opportunity to grieve
properly. All parties involved are to fulfill their obligation to the dead and
to themselves within one afternoon and promptly return to work. It is no wonder
that the mental health of our collective community is suffering. Unresolved
fear, sadness, anger, frustration, unexpressed love and a host of other emotions
are tied up in a person’s death. The community needs an opportunity to mourn
and to help the family through the mourning process.
This weakness in our grieving process is clear when one compares it to the
traditions of other cultures with regards to death and dying. According to
Malidoma Patrice Somé, author of The Healing Wisdom of Africa, Ritual, and
Of
Water and the Spirit, the funereal process in his Dagara tribe is far more
elaborate and lengthy. Each person in the community plays a role in the mourning
process in order to help the family of the dead as well as the dead person. The
family must mourn fully so as to not emotionally hold onto the dead thereby
inadvertently preventing the soul from elevating to the next level of existence.
Also the dead must be given sufficient energy to help the soul make the long and
difficult journey to join the rest of the ancestors. The drums, the dance, the
food, the drink, the tears, the laughter and the precise ceremonial actions all
contribute to the process of helping to elevate the spirit of the dead. The goal
is for the spirit to move on and the family to move forward.
In some cultures, like the Dagara, these emotion-filled and elaborate
ceremonies take place immediately upon the death of the individual. In
others, especially those influenced by Catholicism, the ceremony often
takes place some time after the standard catholic mass and burial. In
Honduras, for example, it is customary to have a large drum party one year
and a day after the death of a family member. In Honduras, the people
typically hold the traditional wake before the Catholic mass and burial;
however, the drum party harkens back to the African roots of the majority
of the people of Honduras.
To hold this party, the family of the dead saves money all year and
asks help from family living all over the country and abroad. For days
before the party begins, enormous amounts of food is prepared. The house
is cleaned and decorated. Drummers are hired and family arrives from far
and wide. The drumming goes on as long as the food, drink and money hold
out and can last for days. The purpose of this party is the same as that
described by Somé. The energy is put forth to help elevate the spirit of
the dead so continual spiritual evolution can take place.
In Haiti, another largely Catholic country, the obligatory
Catholic mass and
burial is held upon death. Nine days after the catholic burial, however, a
traditional Vodou ceremony is often held to assist the spirit of the individual
to move from this world to that of the ancestors. Later, just as in Honduras,
there is a ceremony that often is held one year and a day after the death of the
individual, in this case, to reclaim the spirit from the ancestral waters so
that the person may continue to help and advise the community. This ceremony may
be held off for a time until there is a need amongst a few families to hold the
same ceremony in order to share the expenses. Yet and still, the purpose of the
ceremony is the same: to help elevate the spirit of the dead to a new level of
spiritual evolution.
Here in the US we do not have as many formal methods to help elevate the
spirits of our dead. Our ancestors often are seemingly forgotten almost as soon
as the funeral is over. We check our watches and realize we must get back to
school, work or some other vital event in our lives and leave the grieving to
occur on the subconscious level where emotional and spiritual problems can
develop. The energy we could use to help our loved ones move on instead is
trapped here on earth often tying the dead to us more closely than is necessary
or healthy. We need to seek other methods to deal more effectively with death
and dying. In dealing more effectively with our ancestors, we will begin to heal
ourselves individually. Individual healing can lead to communal healing. Healing
the community can begin to heal some of the larger societal ills we suffer.
Ayibobo!
|
An Altar for the Gede.
Photo by M. Barard © 2001-2004.
All Rights Reserved.
Corner
Niche at St. Roch Cemetery.
Photo by M. Barard
© 2001-2004. All Rights Reserved.
Finishing Touches for the Altar.
Photo by J.A. Mitchell © 2001-2004.
All Rights Reserved.
|
