Witch Queens, Voodoo Spirits, and Hoodoo Saints: A Guide to Magical New Orleans Witch Queens, Voodoo Spirits, and Hoodoo Saints: A Guide to Magical New Orleans Paperback Kindle Audible Audiobook Audio CD
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Aunt Julia Brown: Voudou Legend or Hoodoo Curse?
According to legend, the entire town attended Aunt Julia Brown’s funeral in the hopes she would look favorably upon them after her passing. The memorial service took place on September 29, the very day that the New Orleans hurricane of 1915 struck. The Category 4 storm swept flattening small towns like Frenier in its path. Without a proper weather prediction system, no one saw it coming. All of the townsfolk reportedly died except for two people who had left Frenier for the day.
While there is the common legend of Aunt Julia Brown placing a curse on the townspeople with her song, most folks don’t remember her that way. She was beloved by them, and they don’t believe she would act with malicious intent toward them, even if she were annoyed at them or had perhaps felt disrespected. Instead of a curse, they choose to believe she issued a warning when she sang her song.
Some legends can be connected to documented, factual people and events, while others are relegated to folklore.
Baron Samedi, Voudou Spirit of Death
As the Spirit of Death and Guardian of the Cemetery, Baron Samedi is traditionally depicted as if prepared to be buried Haitian-style—with a top hat, black tuxedo, dark glasses, and cotton plugs in his nostrils. He carries around his gravedigger’s tools: a shovel, pickaxe, and hoe.
In Voudou, the first burial of a man in any cemetery is dedicated to Baron Samedi. Like other spirits of New Orleans Voudou, Baron Samedi is called upon for assistance with problems of everyday living. People born on his Feast Day, November 2, are considered his chosen children.
Lala Hopkins, Notorious Hoodoo Queen
All Voudou Queens and conjure women have their specialties, just like any mainstream Western doctor. For Lala, it was working with candles. She was especially proud of her skill in this area. And, apparently, it was not just a lot of hype. On more than one occasion, she demonstrated her adeptness, leaving interviewers scratching their heads as they watched the candle flames dance in response to her questions and songs. Even as the interviewers continued with patterns of dismissive and patronizing attitudes toward her, they could not deny the mysteries on display right in front of their eyes.
St. Anthony of Padua, Patron Saint of Lost Things
St. Anthony is traditionally invoked to find lost things because of an incident that happened in his own life. According to legend, he had a psalter that contained valuable information that he used in teaching students in his Franciscan Order. A novice who had grown tired of the religious life went AWOL and took St. Anthony’s psalter with him. When St. Anthony realized his psalter was missing, he prayed for its safe return. Soon after his prayer, the thief felt compelled to return it to St. Anthony and return to the Order, which accepted him back.
Betsy Toledano, Voudou Queen and Activist
Looking at the information provided in the articles, some of it suggests that Toledano may have served the Voudou spirits Shango or Oya, given the descriptions of the confiscated Voudou paraphernalia. The strange flint stone and concern with lightning and thunder (Heaven’s artillery) is associated with Shango and Oya in Orisha worship and Ifá. The rainbow colors of her necklace may suggest Ayeda Wedo, the rainbow serpent or Oya, who is known for all colors of the rainbow. Horsehair is associated with both Shango and Oya. Multiple goblets of liquid could easily be goblets of water, which are commonly found on Voudou altars as well as on the altars of Spiritualists.
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