Baron Samedi

In Vodou or voodoo, Baron Samedi ("Baron Saturday", also Baron Samdi, Bawon Samedi, or Bawon Sanmdi) is one of the aspects of Baron, one of the loa. He is a loa of the dead, along with Baron's numerous other incarnations Baron Cimetière, Baron La Croix, and Baron Criminel. Baron Samedi is usually depicted with a white top hat, black tuxedo, dark glasses, and cotton plugs in the nostrils, as if to resemble a corpse dressed and prepared for burial in Haitian style. He has a white, frequently skull-like face (or actually has a skull for a face) and speaks in a nasal voice. He is the head of the Guédé family of Loa, or an aspect of them, or possibly their spiritual father. His wife is the loa Maman Brigitte. 'Samedi' means 'Saturday' in French, though there are alternate etymologies offered.

Baron Samedi stands at the crossroads, where the souls of dead humans pass on their way to Guinee. As well as being the all-knowing loa of death, he is a sexual loa, frequently represented by phallic symbols and noted for disruption, obscenity, debauchery, and having a particular fondness for tobacco and rum. Additionally, he is the loa of sex and resurrection, and in the latter capacity he is often called upon for healing by those near or approaching death, as it is only Baron who can accept an individual into the realm of the dead. He is considered a wise judge, and a powerful magician.

References

* "Voodoo: Search for the Spirit". Laennec Hurbon. Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 1995. "Ghede"
* "A Dictionary of World Mythology". Arthur Cotterell. Oxford University Press, 1997. "Vodou".
* "The Voodoo Gods". Maya Deren. Granada Publishing Limited 1975.

External links

* [http://blog.samedisays.com - The Power to Awaken the Dead]
* [http://www.gede.org - A Virtual Vodou Altar]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/5319/ - Haitian Vodoun Culture]
* [http://www.ezilikonnen.com/gede.html - The Dead: Baron, Brijit and Gede]
* [http://www.baronsmagic.co.uk - Baron's Magic Shop and Resources]