"who ""serve the spirits"" (""sèvitè"") by participating in ritual ceremonies, usually called a ""service to the loa"" (""sèvis lwa"") or an ""African service"" (""sèvis gine""). These terms also refer to the religion as a whole. Outside of Haiti, the term ""Vodou"" refers to the entirety of traditional Haitian religious practice. Originally written as ""vodun"", it is first recorded in ""Doctrina Christiana"", a 1658 document written by the King of Allada's ambassador to the court of Philip IV of Spain. In the following centuries, ""Vodou"" was eventually taken up by non-Haitians as a generic descriptive term for traditional Haitian religion. There"
"widely practiced, despite the negative stigma that it carries both in and out of the country. The exact number of Vodou practitioners is unknown; however, it is believed that a small proportion of the population practice it, often alongside their Christian faith. Some secular Christians also have been known to participate in some rituals, although indirectly. In 1998, a World Bank estimation claimed that approximately 800,000 Haitian citizens were residents of Dominican Republic. By 2001, approximately 15,000 Haitians had migrated to Dominican Republic to work in sugar mills. Haitians workers also migrated to other countries such as the United States,"
"West African Vodun Vodun (meaning ""spirit"" in the Fon and Ewe languages, with a nasal high-tone ""u""; also spelled Vodon, Vodoun, Vodou, Voudou, Voodoo, etc.) is practiced by the Fon people of Benin, and southern and central Togo; as well in Ghana, and Nigeria. It is distinct from the various traditional African religions in the interiors of these countries and is the main source of religions with similar names found among the African diaspora in the Americas, such as Haitian ""Vodou""; Dominican ""Vudú""; Cuban ""Vodú""; Brazilian ""Vodum"" (candomblé jeje and tambor de mina); Puerto Rican Vudú (Sanse); and Louisiana ""Voodoo""."
"Roman Catholic and approximately 16% professing Protestantism. A small population of Muslims and Hindus exist in the country, principally in the capital of Port-au-Prince. Vodou, encompassing several different traditions, consists of a mix of Central and Western African, European, and Native American (Taíno) religions is also widely practiced, despite the negative stigma that it carries both in and out of the country. The exact number of Vodou practitioners is unknown; however, it is believed that a large amount of the population practice it, often alongside their Christian faith. Some secular Christians also have been known to participate in some rituals,"
"modern form is practiced across West Africa in the nations of Benin, Togo, and Burkina Faso, among others. In the Americas, the worship of the Vodoun loa is syncretized with Roman Catholic saints. The Vodou of Haiti, Voodoo of Louisiana, and Vudú of Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Dominican Republic are related more to Vodun than to hoodoo. Hoodoo (folk magic) Hoodoo is a traditional black American folk spirituality that developed from a number of West African spiritual traditions and beliefs. Hoodoo is a mixture of various African religious practices created by enslaved Africans in the New World. These religious practices"
"responsible for a particular aspect of life, with the dynamic and changing personalities of each loa reflecting the many possibilities inherent to the aspects of life over which they preside. To navigate daily life, vodouists cultivate personal relationships with the loa through the presentation of offerings, the creation of personal altars and devotional objects, and participation in elaborate ceremonies of music, dance, and spirit possession. Vodou originated in what is now Benin Republic and developed in the French colonial empire in the 18th century among West African peoples who were enslaved, when African religious practice was actively suppressed, and enslaved"
"negative connotations and misconceptions the term ""voodoo"" has acquired in popular culture. Over the years, practitioners and their supporters have called on various institutions including the Associated Press to redress this misrepresentation by adopting ""Vodou"" in reference to the Haitian religion. In October 2012, the Library of Congress decided to change their subject heading from ""Voodooism"" to Vodou in response to a petition by a group of scholars and practitioners in collaboration with KOSANBA, the scholarly association for the study of Haitian Vodou based at University of California Santa Barbara. Vodou is popularly described as not simply a religion, but"
"but is not a part of Vodou. Such manifestations fall under the auspices of the ""bokor"" or sorcerer, rather than the priest of the loa. The practice of sticking pins in voodoo dolls has history in folk magic. ""Voodoo dolls"" are often associated with New Orleans Voodoo and Hoodoo as well the magical devices of the poppet and the ""nkisi"" or ""bocio"" of West and Central Africa. The general fear of Vodou in the US can be traced back to the end of the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804). There is a legend that Haitians were able to beat the French during"
"obtained this title has gone through the last and highest level of initiation that can take anywhere between 3 and 9 days and nights as well as have spent a time working for the community. Haitian Vodou is also practiced on the island. Haitian Vodou is very much influenced by religions from Benin, and to compliment it also influenced by the Kongo religions, the Yoruba, Roman Catholicism and a bit by the Tainos. It is very widely practiced in many bateyes (sugar cane communities) all around the country and large Haitian communities along the border. Congos Del Espiritu Santo, also"
"with elements of Vodou. Evangelical Protestants and Baptist churches are also very common in St. Marc. The majority of residents are very involved in their church as centers of community and cultural identity. On any given day, groups of people singing hymns can also be heard throughout the streets. Vodou developed from combining of the different West African religions brought by slaves; the word Vodou is derived from an African word meaning spirit. It is the most widely practiced and considered the official religion of Haiti. Although a few devout Catholics denounce it, the majority of Haitians practice both religions"
"elements. In this way, it is very similar to other Latin American syncretist movements, such as the Cuban Santería. It is more widespread in rural parts of the country, partly due to negative stigmas attached to its practice. During the season of Lent, Vodou societies create parading musical bands for a festival called Rara, and fulfill religious obligations in local spaces such as streams, rivers, trees. The CIA World Factbook reports that 2.1% of the population identifies its religion as Vodou, but adds that ""many Haitians practice elements of Vodou in addition to another religion, most often Roman Catholicism."" The"
"nanchon to call upon its loas. These drum sets are known as ""batterie"" (from the French for ""set of drums""). Today, due to economic constrictions and social and geographic changes, the drums from the Rada batterie are the most common, with the Petwo drums also extant. Below is an overview of the several nanchons, the qualities and origins of their laws, and the rhythms and dances associated with their rites. Rada - The loas of this nanchon are strong, but benevolent, balanced in their treatment of their servants. These are the most revered spirits, and many Vodou rituals begin with"
"and is marketed globally as a premium vodka. It is particularly popular at Halloween time. Blavod Blavod (blah-VOD) is an 80-proof (40% ABV) black vodka produced in Germany. It is owned by Distil Plc, a British spirits company that also owns RedLeg Rum and Blackwoods Gin. The brand was first launched in 1998 and is marketed on its unique black colour that derives from Catechu, an extract from the heartwood of Burmese catechu acacia trees. Catechu does not interfere with the characteristics of the vodka, imparting no additional flavour or odour and leaving no stains. In the United Kingdom and"
"Mama Lola Marie Thérèse Alourdes Macena Champagne Lovinski (born 1936, Haiti) commonly known as Mama Lola, is perhaps the most famous Vodou priestess practicing in the United States, rising to prominence in America following the publication of the anthropologist Karen McCarthy Brown's ethnographic account of her life, ""Mama Lola: A Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn"". According to Brown, "" ... Alourdes combines the skills of a medical doctor, a psychotherapist, a social worker, and a priest."" (5) Mama Lola is a prominent spiritual leader within the religious practice of Vodou in America, serving on occasion as a mambo for a cultural"
"in a symbiotic relationship intended to bring both humans and the Loa back to Bondye. ""Vodou is a religious practice, a faith that points toward an intimate knowledge of God, and offers its practitioners a means to come into communion with the Divine, through an ever evolving paradigm of dance, song and prayers."" Haitian mythology Haitian Vodou is a syncretic mixture of Roman Catholic rituals developed during the French colonial period, based on traditional African beliefs, with roots in Dahomey, Kongo and Yoruba traditions, and folkloric influence from the indigenous Taino peoples of Haiti. The Loa, or spirits with whom"
"coast near Ouidah. In Togo, about half the population practices indigenous religions, of which Vodun is by far the largest, with some 2.5 million followers; there may be another million Vodunists among the Ewe of Ghana, as a 13% of the total Ghana population of 20 million are Ewe and 38% of Ghanaians practise traditional religion. According to census data, about 14 million people practise traditional religion in Nigeria, most of whom are Yoruba practising Ifá, but no specific breakdown is available. European colonialism, followed by some of the totalitarian regimes in West Africa, have tried to suppress Vodun as"
"Fête du Vodoun Traditional Day or Fête du Vodoun (literally Vodoun Festival, also known as Traditional Religions Day) is a public holiday in Benin that celebrates the nation's history surrounding the West African religion of Vodoun. The celebration is held annually on January 10 throughout the country but most notably in the city of Ouidah. Beginning with the slaughter of a goat in honor of the spirits, the festival is filled with singing, dancing and the imbibing of liquor, especially gin. Vodoun was officially declared a religion in Benin in 1996 and the festival has attracted thousands of devotees and"
"of 37.5% ABV for any ""European vodka"" to be named as such. Products sold as ""vodka"" in the United States must have a minimum alcohol content of 40%. Even with these loose restrictions, most vodka sold contains 40% ABV. Vodka is traditionally drunk ""neat"" (not mixed with water, ice, or other mixer), though it is often served freezer chilled in the vodka belt countries of Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden and Ukraine. It is also used in cocktails and mixed drinks, such as the Vodka martini, Cosmopolitan, Vodka Tonic, Screwdriver, Greyhound, Black or White Russian,"
"Simonet Biokou Simonet Biokou is a Beninois Vodou artist. Based in Porto Novo, Benin, where Vodou (or Voodoo) is an official religion practiced by 40% of the population. Before starting work each morning he sings to a statue of god Gu. He is noted for his work using scrap metals, including the rims of wheels and bicycle chains, bolts and springs, which he uses mainly to make metal works of Voodoo gods. The artist has frequently exhibited in Africa, Europe and Canada. He is the only African Biokou sculptor exhibited at the Contemporary Art Museum of Liège. Biokou played himself"
"of the Catholic Church. Vodou, a religion with African roots similar to those of Cuba and Brazil, originated during colonial times in which slaves were obliged to disguise their loa or spirits as Roman Catholic saints, an element of a process called syncretism and is still practiced by some Haitians today. Due to the religious syncretism between Catholicism and Vodou, it is difficult to estimate the number of Vodouists in Haiti. Minority religions in Haiti include Islam, Bahá'í Faith, Judaism, and Buddhism. The two official languages of Haiti are French and Haitian Creole. French is the principal written and administratively"
"trend will result in increased adoption of ""samogon"" among the middle class, and by 2014, ""samogon"" will overtake vodka as the most common alcoholic beverage nationwide. In 2016, it was estimated that the black market share in hard liquor sales in Russia dropped to 50 percent in 2016 from 65 percent in 2015 and sells for about a third of the vodka sold in shops. In Saudi Arabia, where alcohol is prohibited, black-market alcohol, typically distilled from fermented sugar water, is mostly known as ""Aragh"" (""عرق"" in Arabic). 'Sidiki' or 'sid' are also commonly recognized terms. 'Sid' is often produced"
"Vodou tradition. Las 21 Divisiones is less strict than the Haitian Vodou tradition. There is less ""regleman"" (fixed doctrines or rules) within the Haitian Vodou Tradition. There is no fixed doctrine, defined temples or ceremonies, and it does not have as rigid a structure. This can be seen in the many different ways in which Caballos de Misterios conduct ceremonies and how the spirits mount a person. Dominican Vodou practitioners are often called “Caballos” but they are also known as Papa Bokos and Papa Lwa (both for males) and Mama Mambos and Mama Lwa (both for females). One who has"
"to beads and sequins brought in from Canada and the United States. These artists earn their living from sales to tourists and to art galleries. In the 21st century there have been considerable changes to ""drapo Vodou"" as an art-form, in which artists such as Myrlande Constant have introduced new themes and techniques. Other contemporary ""drapo"" artists include Evelyne Alcide, Roudy Azor, Gabriel Chery, Lindor Chiler, Mireille Delice, Christian Dorleus and Josiane Joseph. Their large and elaborate ""drapo"" represent in greater details the interactions with the ""lwas"" in events such as Vodou ceremonies and weddings. They may also represent evangelical"
"In Vodou ceremonies followers of Ogou wear a red shirt, pants, and scarf. A followers of Ogou in a possession-trance is offered Haitian white rum during the ceremony. In some ceremonies rum is burned in a container to allow Ogou to ""wash"" the hands of the followers. Two Vodou songs to Ogou, as recorded and translated by Michel S. Laguerre: Fè Ogou Fè, Ogou Fèray o, Fè Ogou Fè, Ogou Fèray o ""I am an iron,"" ""I am covered with iron."" Fèrè Fèray tout ko Fèray sé kouto, Fèrè Fèray tout ko Fèray sé manchèt. ""The body of Ogou Fèray"
"consumers of vodka: The EU countries of the vodka belt produce over 70% of the EU's vodka. The southern boundary of the ""vodka belt"" roughly corresponds to the −2 °C January isotherm. With the exception of Poland, Ukraine, and some regions of southern Russia, cultivation of grapes is impossible or very difficult in the vodka belt. Sometimes the term ""vodka belt"" is used while referring exclusively to the Slavic countries of Central and Eastern Europe, as they are the historical homeland of vodka (Poland and Russia being the nations most often associated with the invention of the drink). Before the"
"de Palo"" or ""Maní"""". Some of the most popular artists to record this music are Enerolisa Nuñez and Bembesito. Dominican Vudú is practiced through a Tcha-Tcha (“""maraca""” – which means rattle) lineage. In Haiti, Vodoo has come about and become more popular through another lineage known as the Asson. However, before the Asson, the Tcha-Tcha lineage was the prominent lineage in Haiti. Thus the Tcha-Tcha lineage is one of the oldest lineages within the Vodou tradition all over the island. Dominican Vudú practitioners are often called """"Caballos""”, ""Brujos"" or ""Servidores"" but they are also known as ""Papa Bokos"" and ""Papa"
"vodou, combines elements of Western African, native Caribbean, and Christian (especially Roman Catholic) beliefs. Recently developed religious systems that exhibit marked syncretism include the African diasporic religions Candomblé, Vodou and Santería, which analogize various Yorùbá and other African deities to the Roman Catholic saints. Some sects of Candomblé have also incorporated Native American deities, and Umbanda combined African deities with Kardecist spiritualism. Hoodoo is a similarly derived form of folk magic practiced by some African American communities in the Southern United States. Other traditions of syncretic folk religion in North America include Louisiana Voodoo as well as Pennsylvania Dutch Pow-wow,"
"Blavod Blavod (blah-VOD) is an 80-proof (40% ABV) black vodka produced in Germany. It is owned by Distil Plc, a British spirits company that also owns RedLeg Rum and Blackwoods Gin. The brand was first launched in 1998 and is marketed on its unique black colour that derives from Catechu, an extract from the heartwood of Burmese catechu acacia trees. Catechu does not interfere with the characteristics of the vodka, imparting no additional flavour or odour and leaving no stains. In the United Kingdom and Ireland it is sold at 37.5% strength. Blavod was created by marketing consultant Mark Dorman"
"Haitian mythology Haitian Vodou is a syncretic mixture of Roman Catholic rituals developed during the French colonial period, based on traditional African beliefs, with roots in Dahomey, Kongo and Yoruba traditions, and folkloric influence from the indigenous Taino peoples of Haiti. The Loa, or spirits with whom Vodouisants work and practice, are not gods but servants of the Supreme Creator Bondye (pronounced Bon Dieu). In keeping with the French-Catholic influence of the faith, vodousaints are for the most part monotheists, believing that the Loa are great and powerful forces in the world with whom humans interact and vice versa, resulting"
"in the 1998 film Divine carcasse. Simonet Biokou Simonet Biokou is a Beninois Vodou artist. Based in Porto Novo, Benin, where Vodou (or Voodoo) is an official religion practiced by 40% of the population. Before starting work each morning he sings to a statue of god Gu. He is noted for his work using scrap metals, including the rims of wheels and bicycle chains, bolts and springs, which he uses mainly to make metal works of Voodoo gods. The artist has frequently exhibited in Africa, Europe and Canada. He is the only African Biokou sculptor exhibited at the Contemporary Art"
"Vodou."" ""Voodoo"" is a spelling used to denote tropes of Vodou, the Haitian tradition, which perpetuate misunderstandings, lies, and stereotypes. As such, Boutros explains that online Vodou, as well as cyberspirituality in general, are not representations of ""real religions in real places,"" but instead are their own ""dynamic entity,"" and this is an important distinction to make when studying Vodou or any other religion and its online presence. Many new religious movements have websites. A website of the Church of Scientology, for example, allows visitors to take an online personality test (the Oxford Capacity Analysis); however, to review the full"
"Vodka Vodka ( , ) is a distilled beverage composed primarily of water and ethanol, but sometimes with traces of impurities and flavorings. Traditionally, vodka is made through the distillation of cereal grains or potatoes that have been fermented, though some modern brands, such as Ciroc, CooranBong, and Bombora, use fruits or sugar. Since the 1890s, the standard Polish, Russian, Belarusian, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Icelandic, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Slovak, Swedish and Ukrainian vodkas are 40% ABV or alcohol by volume (80 US proof), a percentage widely misattributed to Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev. Meanwhile, the European Union has established a minimum"
"cereals. Popular alcoholic beverages are ""divin"" (Moldovan brandy), beer, and local wine. Total recorded adult alcohol consumption is approximately evenly split between spirits, beer and wine. Among Moldova's most prominent composers are Gavriil Musicescu, Ștefan Neaga and Eugen Doga. In the field of pop music, Moldova has produced the band O-Zone, who came to prominence in 2003, with their hit song ""Dragostea Din Tei"", which topped multiple notable single charts. Moldova has been participating in the Eurovision Song Contest since 2005. Another popular band from Moldova is Zdob și Zdub that represented the country in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest,"