Abstract
The Spirit Cult in Hayti.—The spirit cult of Hayti, more popularly known as ‘voodoo’, is the subject of a communication by Dr. Elsie Clews Parsons in the Journal de la Société des Américanistes de Paris, N.S. t. 20. The spirit cult has hitherto been undescribed. owing to the attention given to one of its reputed features, namely, ritual cannibalism, the folk-lore of which is widespread among foreigners. If human sacrifices occur or have occurred, it is in connexion with the ‘taureau criminel’, the criminal bull, one of the loi or spirits, of which there are a large number, both Catholic and African. The cult makes no distinction between patron saint and West Coast fetish, and may be described as the theory and practice of possession by spirits. Every loi has his or her traits, an appetite for this or that offering; some like tafia (rum), others lean to a taste in dress or colour, a particular day of the week, a particular way of taking possession, and so forth. For example, Loi Géclé talks through his nose when he takes possession of anyone; he eats only cassaba, pepper and herring; he is a master of the cemetery. Loi Exili likes handkerchiefs and nice clothes; they must be red; in her food perfume must be put, and her favours are for men only, and nothing for girls; she is identified with a Catholic saint who carres a dagger in the hand. People who get Loi Coulève (snake spirit) walk on their bellies. The snake is small in the day-time but at night it becomes so big as to weigh down the branches of trees. It visits houses, and people do not kill it. The loi may be cherished by anyone and may take possession of anyone, or it may have been inherited within the family so far back as the old people who were born in Guinea. Maintaining the shrine of the loi or making proper food offerings are important ways of holding their favour. The ceremonial cult of the spirit is observed in Mangé loi and dansé loi, spirit feasts and spirit dances, in which some, or at times all, participants are possessed. Secrecy attaches to them to a greater or less degree according to the disposition of the local constabulary.
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Research Items. Nature 124, 107–109 (1929). https://doi.org/10.1038/124107a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/124107a0