Those who follow the voodoo religion in New Orleans make offerings to the appropriate loas in order to gain success in the area in which they’re seeking favor. Voodooism openly embraces people of all races, genders and ages. Practioners also seek the guidance and protection of their ancestors, who they believe return from the dead in spirit form, An estimated 17 percent of the city's residents are Voodoo practitioners!
Voodoo New Orleans today is a blend of French, Spanish and Indian cultures. The majority of the practitioners you will meet in New Orleans are white, which goes to show the enormous impact that Afro-creole folk religion has had on New Orleans. Lots of neigberhood bars, businesses and restaurants have actual voodoo shrines to the Loas for good luck.
Voodooism is also a major draw for visitors to New Orleans. Just about every tourist shop in the French Quarter sells Voodoo candles, potions and dolls "guaranteed" to bring health, money or success.
The purpose of rituals is to make contact with a spirit, to gain their favor by offering them animal sacrifices and gifts, to obtain help in the form of more abundant food, higher standard of living, and improved health. Human and Loa depend upon each other; humans provide food and other materials; the Loa provide health, protection from evil spirits and good fortune. Rituals are held to celebrate lucky events, to attempt to escape a run of bad fortune, to celebrate a seasonal day of celebration associated with a Loa, for healing, at birth, marriage and death.
Vodun priests can be male (houngan or hungan), or female (mambo). A Vodun temple is called a hounfour (or humfort). At its center is a poteau-mitan a pole where the God and spirits communicate with the people. An altar will be elaborately decorated with candles, pictures of Christian saints, symbolic items related to the Loa.
