History of Haitian Voodoo

Haitian Voodoo is what we now refer to as the ancient form of African Voodoo.  When Columbus arrived on what he thought was India in 1492, was actually the land known today as Haiti.  He first named this land Hispaniola, which means little Spain.  The colonist, who arrived, then needed slave workers to help them harvest crops such as sugar, coffee, and indigo on there plantations.  The colonist brought slaves over from northern and central Africa.  These slaves practiced the religion of voodoo.  The colonists had a code though that saw to it that all slaves must be baptized as christians.  With slaves not being able to practice their religion freely, they stole many aspects from Catholicism, which helped keep intact their voodoo beliefs.  They then related their spirits to Catholic saints, used prayer and hymns at ceremony's, and used the Catholic holidays to celebrate their spirits.

Posted By Jon Harris

How Stuff Works by Tracy V. Wilson. April 24, 2009. www.howstuffworks.com