From haunted houses, spooky hotels and even Halloween theme parks, people will travel anywhere and everywhere just to participate in some sort of ghostly experience. Yet, I feel we have forgotten that Louisiana is the home of Halloween.
New Orleans is one of the most historically known places for its “spooky” atmosphere. Due to its diverse populations inhabiting the city, New Orleans is home to a variety of religions, cultures and stories that have shaped it into the city it is today.
It was not until the early 1700s that Voodoo was first introduced to New Orleans, but man, did this religion make its debut. Yes, Voodoo is a religion. Originating from West African traditions, many Americans believe in the supreme deity of this religion, Bondye, following basic rituals and spells.
Practicing Voodoo involves focusing on and connecting with spirits while using paraphernalia such as candles, dolls and herbs to make contact with “the other side.”
The icon of the religion is Marie Laveau, a woman who became a well-known spiritual leader in both Voodoo and Catholicism, creating her own legacy in witchcraft and spreading it amongst the city.
Speaking of witchcraft, Voodoo specifically is not just the only thing keeping New Orleans alive with its eerie aesthetic. Based on Laveaus’ practices, she gained the title of a witch, involving Voodoo in her way of life. With her influence, others who identified themselves as witches began to find a home here in Louisiana.
Voodoo is not just something you see in movies, but a genuine religion that is still heavily practiced today.
Historically, Voodoo has been shunned by society because of the misconception that the religion is related to the devil. Today, the religion is now being honored and adored by people all over the city. Witchcraft is now considered a fun hobby for most, indulging in forms of worship, spell casting and other rituals to spirits of the underworld.
As Louisiana natives, we tend to overlook what the cities around us have to offer.
Whether things like this produce eagerness or fear within you, it is here, just a couple of hours away from Lafayette.
Voodoo is actually one of New Orleans’ biggest money grabbers. Allowing for hundreds of different types of tours to take place, giving those outside the city the ability to experience such a supernatural moment. Crazily enough, it has brought in tens of thousands of dollars.
For some, this is just another way to boost the economy; for others, this is their custom. Either way, these ghostly experiences hold tight to the city and will probably continue for many years to come.
In many cases, Halloween is an all-time favorite for most. From the adrenaline of fear to the curiosity of all things haunted, there are so many things actively grabbing onto the attention of others.
So, if you are one to chase after the sinisterness of Halloween and are looking for more, all you have to do is look at where you are now and see how rich Louisiana’s culture is when it comes to these mysterious attributes.
However, sometimes Halloween speaks a little differently for others.
If you are like me, and are terrified of anything that has to do with ghosts, scares or this so-called sinisterness I have mentioned, then maybe New Orleans is not the best place for you.
Matter of fact, you might just want to lock yourself up for Halloween.
Though I do not fully agree with or support such practices or even the idea of dark magic, it is impossible to ignore the range it holds in creating such a specific and unique way of life. With such a wide variety of cultures mixed from across the world, molding together, people are able to unite with one another in such a way that produces a place of hope, creating a community that has only been incorporated into New Orleans and Louisiana in general.
So next time you are thinking about traveling far, or going out of your way just to get a true Halloween experience, don’t forget that you have a beautiful city right under your nose, rich in all things considered spooky.