Voodoo

On a recent trip to New Orleans, I discovered that there a whole sub culture of sorts that is based on cemetery tours as well as the history of Voodoo and how it was introduced to the United States. 

In New Orleans cemeteries and graves within them are actually above ground, due to the fact that New Orleans it self is below sea level and is protected by levees.  That being said if the coffins were in the ground they would come to the surface because of the water level.

While the predominant religion of the New Orleans is Catholic there were and still are those who practice the art of “Voodoo”. Marie Laveau was thought to be the original “Voodoo High Priestess”, responsible for bringing this art to the United States.

Many people including tourist will leave trinkets on the graves as gifts in addition to marking the grave with three XXX’s, in return, the Voodoo Priest is said to grant the wish of the visitor.

While there are people who still practice the art of Voodoo, I did not realize that there was a market of sorts, to the tourism of cemetery tours and where these “Voodoo Priest” are laid to rest.