New Orleans Voodoo is a religion with deep roots in West Africa and a long, complicated history in Louisiana. It developed through the traditions of enslaved Africans and their descendants, influences from Catholicism, and the cultural traditions that came to New Orleans from other parts of the Caribbean.
Today, Voodoo remains an important part of New Orleans history and culture, although it is often misunderstood or portrayed inaccurately.
So, what exactly is New Orleans Voodoo? Where did it come from? Is it still practiced today? And how can visitors learn about it respectfully?
This guide explains the history and traditions of New Orleans Voodoo and highlights places where you can learn more during your visit.
You can also see Tours by Foot NOLA guide Robi, who was born and raised in the religion, share its history in Congo Square:
Voodoo is sometimes spelled Vodou or Voudou, while Vodun is another related term associated with West African traditions.
Because of its long history of secrecy and misunderstanding, Voodoo has often been portrayed as occultism, devil worship, or black magic. Those stereotypes don't accurately describe the religion.
In modern New Orleans, the word "voodoo" is also used commercially and culturally in many different ways. You may see it on everything from religious establishments to souvenir shops and restaurants. Not everything labeled "voodoo" is connected to the religion itself.
Voodoo History in New Orleans
For centuries, people in West Africa practiced a variety of related religious traditions. These traditions differed from one another, but many included belief in a supreme creator and spirits who could communicate with and influence the lives of people.
Ceremonies could include prayer, music, drumming, dancing, offerings, and other forms of spiritual practice.
The transatlantic slave trade forcibly brought millions of Africans and their descendants to the Americas. In places where European colonial governments and Christian churches controlled public life, enslaved people often had to adapt how they practiced and preserved their religious traditions.
In New Orleans, African religious traditions developed alongside Catholicism and other cultural influences.
One important example was the identification of African spirits with Catholic saints. This allowed some African religious traditions to survive alongside Catholic practices and, in some cases, created traditions that incorporated elements of both.
This history is one reason New Orleans Voodoo cannot be reduced to a simple combination of "African religion and Catholicism." It developed over generations and was influenced by many different communities and traditions.
Congo Square
One of the most important places in the history of African traditions in New Orleans is Congo Square, now part of Louis Armstrong Park.
Enslaved and free people of African descent gathered there on Sundays, when they had limited time away from their work. Music, dancing, drumming, trading, and other cultural traditions took place there.
Congo Square became an important place for preserving African cultural traditions in New Orleans.
The gatherings were known to authorities and continued for generations. The music and rhythms associated with Congo Square also became part of the cultural foundation of New Orleans and its later musical traditions.
Today, visitors can walk through Congo Square and see historical markers explaining its importance.
The area also hosts cultural events and performances that continue the tradition of celebrating African and African American culture.
Voodoo in Everyday Life
Voodoo was not only practiced through ceremonies.
Voodoo priests and priestesses could also serve their communities as spiritual advisers, healers, and sources of practical knowledge.
Items associated with Voodoo traditions could include gris-gris bags, herbs, charms, candles, oils, and other objects used for spiritual purposes.
These traditions contributed to the popular association between Voodoo and magic, even though the religious practices themselves are much more complex.
You can learn more about the day-to-day work and traditions of a Voodoo priest in this video featuring Tours by Foot NOLA guide Robi:
New Orleans Voodoo and Other Traditions
Although Voodoo is strongly associated with New Orleans, related African-rooted religions developed throughout the Americas.
In Haiti, Vodou developed through African, Indigenous, and European influences.
In Brazil, Candomblé developed through West African religious traditions and other cultural influences.
In Spanish and Caribbean communities, traditions such as Santería developed through different combinations of African and Catholic influences.
These traditions are related historically but are not interchangeable.
New Orleans Voodoo also continued to evolve as people arrived in the city from other parts of the Caribbean and the Americas.
One particularly important influence came from Haiti. Thousands of Haitian refugees and immigrants arrived in New Orleans around the time of the Haitian Revolution, bringing their own religious and cultural traditions with them.
The result was a religious tradition that continued to evolve within New Orleans.
Marie Laveau: The Most Famous Name in New Orleans Voodoo
No discussion of New Orleans Voodoo would be complete without Marie Laveau.
Marie Laveau became one of the most famous Voodoo practitioners in New Orleans during the 19th century. Her reputation grew during her lifetime, and stories about her continued to expand after her death.
Today, she is one of the most recognizable figures associated with New Orleans history.
Watch a video of Tours by Foot NOLA guides Robi and Sandy exploring Marie Laveau’s history:
Marie Laveau was born in New Orleans in 1801, shortly before the Louisiana Purchase. She lived during a period of enormous change in the city, when people from Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and other parts of the United States were shaping New Orleans culture.
Much of what people believe about Laveau comes from a combination of historical records, newspaper accounts, oral traditions, and later folklore.
That makes separating the historical Marie Laveau from the legendary one difficult.
Learn more about what is known — and what remains uncertain — in our guide to Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans.
How to Experience New Orleans Voodoo Today
If you want to learn about Voodoo during your visit to New Orleans, there are several ways to explore its history and continuing traditions.
Take a Voodoo Tour
One of the best ways to understand New Orleans Voodoo is with a knowledgeable local guide who can explain its history, traditions, and place in modern New Orleans.
Tours by Foot offers two different Voodoo experiences:
Voodoo in Congo Square Tour with High Priest Robi
Join High Priest Robi, who was born and raised in the Voodoo tradition, for a pay-what-you-wish experience focused on Voodoo in Congo Square.
Robi shares the history and traditions of Voodoo from his own personal experience and connection to the religion, making this a unique opportunity to learn about Voodoo from someone who has lived the tradition.
True Voodoo History of NOLA's French Quarter & Congo Square with Local Guide
This paid tour explores the history of Voodoo in New Orleans, including its connections to the French Quarter and Congo Square.
For a deeper understanding of New Orleans Voodoo, consider experiencing both tours. Voodoo in Congo Square Tour with High Priest https://freetoursbyfoot.com/voodoo-tour-new-orleans/Robi offers a personal perspective from someone raised in the tradition, while True Voodoo History of NOLA's French Quarter & Congo Square with Local Guide provides a broader look at the history and cultural development of Voodoo in New Orleans. Together, they offer two complementary perspectives on this important part of the city's history and culture.
Check our New Orleans tour calendar for current schedules and availability.
Voodoo is also sometimes included in New Orleans ghost and history tours. However, there is an important distinction between learning about the religion and hearing the supernatural stories that have become part of New Orleans folklore.
For ghost stories and the city's darker legends, check out our New Orleans Ghost Tour.
Visit Congo Square
Congo Square is located within Louis Armstrong Park, just outside the French Quarter.
The landscaped space visitors see today looks very different from the gathering place of the 18th and 19th centuries, but historical markers help explain its importance.
Congo Square is particularly important because it represents one of the strongest surviving connections between New Orleans and the cultural traditions brought by Africans and their descendants.
The area's history extends beyond Voodoo. The music, rhythms, dancing, and cultural traditions associated with Congo Square helped shape the development of New Orleans music.
Visit St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is one of New Orleans' most famous historic cemeteries and the traditional burial place associated with Marie Laveau.
The cemetery is a Catholic burial ground, reflecting the complicated religious history of New Orleans.
Marie Laveau's tomb became one of the cemetery's most famous attractions, although stories about her burial place have become intertwined with legend.
Access to St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is restricted, so visitors should check current access rules before planning a visit.
Learn more in our guide to St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.
Get a Voodoo Reading
Some Voodoo practitioners offer spiritual consultations or readings to members of the religion as well as visitors.
The type of reading varies depending on the practitioner's tradition. Some may use tarot cards or playing cards, while others use different spiritual practices.
If you are interested in experiencing a reading, remember that different practitioners and traditions may have very different approaches.
Visitors should also be respectful of the fact that Voodoo is a living religion rather than simply a tourist attraction.
Explore Voodoo Shops
You'll find plenty of businesses in New Orleans that use the word "voodoo" in their names.
Some are religious or spiritual establishments. Others sell art, souvenirs, books, candles, herbs, or other products.
Common items associated with Voodoo shops may include:
- Gris Gris
- Charms
- Spells
- Candles
- Potion Oils
- Incense
- Herbs
- Tarot cards
- Cleansing Sprays
- Voodoo Dolls
- And more!
Not every shop that uses the word "voodoo" represents the religion itself.
For a closer look at the city's Voodoo-related businesses, see our guide to 5 Top Voodoo Shops in New Orleans.
Visit the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum is located in the French Quarter and explores the history and traditions associated with New Orleans Voodoo.
The small museum contains artifacts and exhibits related to Voodoo and New Orleans history.
The museum is one of several places where visitors can learn about the city's long association with Voodoo, although a museum visit should be considered just one part of understanding this complicated history.
See our complete guide to the Voodoo Museum in New Orleans for current information.
Is Voodoo Still Practiced in New Orleans?
Yes.
New Orleans Voodoo is not simply a historical curiosity.
People continue to practice Voodoo and related traditions in New Orleans today. Some practitioners were raised in the tradition, while others became involved later in life.
At the same time, there are many New Orleanians who incorporate African-rooted cultural traditions into their lives without identifying as Voodoo practitioners.
Because Voodoo is a living religion, it is important to distinguish between actual religious practice and the commercial or fictional versions of Voodoo that appear in popular culture.
That distinction is one of the reasons learning about New Orleans Voodoo from knowledgeable local sources can make such a difference.
New Orleans Voodoo: Beyond the Myths
Voodoo has been part of New Orleans history for generations, but much of what visitors think they know about it comes from movies, television, folklore, and sensationalized stories.
The real history is more complicated — and much more interesting.
It is a story about African traditions surviving slavery and colonialism, communities adapting to enormous cultural change, the development of New Orleans' distinctive culture, and a living religious tradition that continues today.
If you'd like to learn more about the history and traditions of Voodoo from a local guide, join us on one of our New Orleans Voodoo Tours.
