Did You Know? Voodoo

A very cool postcard I received from the lovely Helen in the USA some time ago. I really like these Did You Know? cards - I love reading about random things like this!



Louisiana Voodoo, also known as New Orleans Voodoo, describes a set of underground religious practices which originated from the traditions of the African diaspora. It is a cultural form of the Afro-American religions which developed within the French, Spanish, and Creole speaking African American population of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is one of many incarnations of African-based religions rooted in West African Dahomeyan Vodun. They became syncretized with the Catholicism and Francophone culture of south Louisiana as a result of the slave trade. Louisiana Voodoo is often confused with—but is not completely separable from—Haitian Vodou and southern Hoodoo. It differs from Vodou in its emphasis upon Gris-gris, voodoo queens, use of Hoodoo occult paraphernalia, and Li Grand Zombi (snake deity). It was through Louisiana Voodoo that such terms as gris-gris (a Wolof term) and voodoo dolls were introduced into the American lexicon.



Some very nice US stamps again, too. The one on the right is from a set of 5 stamps issued earlier this year, showind 'Sunday Funnies'. This one here is Calvin & Hobbes (which used to be one of my favourite comics when I was younger). The stamp in the middle is from a Hawaiian Rain Forest souvenir sheet of 10 44–cent commemorative stamps, also issued this year. The small stamp is a definitive stamp from 2003, showing the American Clock.