Haiti's Most Amazing Traditions: From Cock Fighting to Voodoo Cult

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

On December 6, 1492, Columbus' expedition discovered a new island in the Caribbean. The island was named Hispaniola, and colonialists began to develop it. Today Haiti is a romantic place with beautiful beaches, a unique combination of African, European and Caribbean traditions, where voodoo is believed and used today.

The first colonialists were killed by "good people"

The natives called themselves "Taino", which means "good people", and called their land "aichi" - "Mountain land", which laid the foundation for the modern name. Klumb left 39 settlers on Hispaniol, but when he returned to the island a year later, it turned out that all of them were killed by the locals because of their mistreatment. But colonization of the island, which was ideal for growing coffee, indigo, sugarcane and cotton, continued. By the end of the 18th century, 42 thousand white colonialists, 50 thousand free blacks and mulattos, whose rights were sharply limited, and 452 thousand black slaves lived on the island.

Mulattos in Haiti are divided into more than 100 shades of white and black

In the 18th century, Haitians developed detailed genealogical tables that divided mulattoes into over 100 shades of white and black. The ranking went from people with 1/8 black skin, the so-called Sakatra, to several varieties of only 1/16 dark, which are called Sangmel. It is worth noting that most of the modern inhabitants of Haiti are descendants of the inhabitants of the African continent, who were brought here a long time ago as slaves.

Most Haitians are still treated by shamans today

In Haiti, they believe that it is impossible to get rid of many diseases by resorting to medical help. However, this belief is quite understandable: according to statistics, there are only 8 doctors, 10 nurses and 10 hospital beds per 100,000 Haitians. Be that as it may, but for medical assistance, the locals prefer to turn to the voodoo sorcerer. The sorcerer performs a dance ritual using images of fairy-tale characters, as well as herbs, rum, candles, smoking, and sometimes (probably on special occasions) sacrifices chickens. After a course of magic, the patient should not see anyone until he is fully recovered, because, as Haitians believe, the disease can spread to the first person he meets and will progress in a new body.

The disease, as the Haitians are convinced, spreads to insects, plants and other creatures that fall into the eyes of the patient. However, in Haiti, all life is spent under the cult of voodoo - the worship of witchcraft. Voodoo rituals accompany the birth of a person, death, wedding, harvest and all calendar events.

"Plaza" - Haitian civil marriage

The Haitians did not have financial well-being from the very beginning of the discovery of their island by Columbus. In 1807, the President of Haiti, Henri Christophe, even stated that pumpkins, which were very important to local residents, are the basis of the national currency. Today, in Haiti, 70% of the population has no permanent job, and the average daily wage is $ 2.75. Such blatant poverty of the population is the reason that most are unable to even afford a wedding. The poor in Haiti just live together. A man and a woman agree on the management of common finances and on the division of household duties. Such relationships are called "plaza". They are not recognized by either the state or the church, but at the same time they are widespread throughout the country.

Haitians are afraid of geckos, sewers and zombies

It is worth noting that Haitians, who piously believe in a variety of omens, are afraid of harmless gecko lizards, which quite often settle in the house. It is believed that if a gecko jumps on a girl, then she will become pregnant, and if on a young man, then his girlfriend will be in position. The most dangerous lizards, according to the Haitians, are white lizards.

There is no running water or city sewerage on the island today. On the roads, however, you can see storm sewer hatches, and, as a rule, they are located along the edge of the roadway. If somehow the hatch was in the middle of the road, then Haitian drivers, passing it, will never let it pass between the wheels - a terribly bad omen.

But most of all in Haiti they are afraid of dying "not quite", having undergone a violent resurrection and becoming a zombie. But for those who really died - respect and honor. The body of the deceased is placed in a crypt house, covered with pink or blue plaster and stucco. These settlements of "cheerful" colors are located close to the shacks of the living and look, as a rule, much more solid than the latter.

Rooster fighting is a national sport

The traditional sport in Haiti and the most popular pastime of the locals is the Rooster Fight. Roosters are specially fed with peppers soaked in rum and raw meat so that they become persistent and aggressive. The winner of these battles can win about $ 70, which is much more than most Haitians can get in a month.

It should be noted that Haiti can rightfully be called a country of carnivals. The most striking holiday is considered the Mardi Gras carnival, when theatrical processions take place on almost all the streets of the country, accompanied by festive orchestras. During the days of Great Lent, the Rara carnival takes place, during which the adherents of "witchcraft societies" roam the country, beating ancient drum rhythms. Held annually in Haiti and annual Voodoo pilgrimages.

All Saints' Day is also celebrated in Haiti. These days, locals gather in cemeteries to glorify Baron Samedi, the lord of the dead. Cemetery crosses are decorated with flowers, skulls and candles, and many tiny mirrors are always sewn onto clothes. Lovers of this holiday will be interested to get acquainted with a collection of glamorous skulls by Katherine Martin … By the way, voodoo in Haiti is an official religion on a par with Catholicism.

The cost of a painting by street artists depends on the color of the buyer's skin

Haitian "street" painting makes a particularly vivid impression on tourists. These paintings are painted and sold on the streets. There are whole painting-blocks, where hundreds of meters of the street are hung with canvases by local masters. As a rule, on the streets, paintings of very dubious quality are offered on stretchers.

Plots: Haitian villages, portraits of local residents, Haitian markets, scenes from life and, of course, boudoir themes. Pricing here depends on the color of the buyer's skin. First, the seller calls the classic amount - $ 100 (without specifying, Haitian or American). Once you start bargaining, the amount will slowly drop from $ 20 to $ 9, depending on the patience of the buyer. True, it is worth considering the fact that most of the street paintings are outright daubs.