New Orleans Voodoo: A Cultural History

by Rosary O’Neill, Rory O'Neill Schmitt

The Voodoo tradition continues in the Crescent City even today. Rory Schmitt and Rosary O'Neill study the altars, art, history and ceremonies that anchor Voodoo in New Orleans culture.


There is no more compelling nor more spiritual city than New Orleans. The city's Roman Catholic roots and its blended French, Spanish, Creole and American Indian populations heavily influenced the rites and rituals that West Africans brought to Louisiana as enslaved laborers. The resulting unique Voodoo tradition is now deeply rooted in the area. Enslaved practitioners in the nineteenth century held Voodoo dances in designated public areas like Congo Square but conducted their secret rituals away from the prying eyes of the city. By 1874, some twelve thousand New Orleanians attended Voodoo queen Marie Laveau's St. John's Eve rites on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. The Voodoo tradition continues in the Crescent City even today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, History

176 pages, Paperback

Published January 7, 2019

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I could've finished this book, but it was so poorly written I couldn't make it.

[Laura J · Rating 5 out of 5]

picked up this book during a spring break trip to new orleans to learn more about the practice of voodoo and its influence on the culture. This was a very quick read and thoroughly covers the history of voodoo while interviewing local practitioners and consulting academic texts. It also describes the life and influence of Marie Laveau who I was particularly interested in learning about. Also recognized spots around New Orleans to visit for more information. Great introductory read to the topic as it does a lot of myth busting about voodoo regarding hollywood depictions. thought the authors did a nice job of really trying to immerse themselves in the voodoo faith rather than just observe.

Added bonus of photos taken by the authors of the subjects relevant to the covered topics.

[Francisco Becerra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting PoV about voodoo that goes beyond the caricature that horror cinema has made of it, highlighting the pure spiritual and positive aspects of the religion. However it lacks depth, it only shows superficially and in a very subjective way the meaning of practices, and personally I don’t trust much when a religious practice is not self-conscious enough to pinpoint their own frailties. Good to shatter myths about it, but not to get truly acquainted with voodoo.

[Carol Farrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading a great deal about Voodoo lately with each book I read deepening my understanding in different ways. This book was no exception. It felt friendly as if having a conversation with the authors. Their research came through as detailed and interesting. My confidence in the information was increased greatly by the fact that they talked with actual practitioners.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well written and well researched. An interesting look at Voodoo and New Orleans.

[H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very informative. The history behind the religion and the growth of the people over time kept me really interested.

[Daniel Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a neat book, I learned a lot about the history, art, and practices of New Orleans Voodoo. The book is centered around the experiences of voodoo practitioners with interviews and photos interspersed throughout the text.