Saturday, October 27
Beginning at 7:00 pm
Wear your best Halloween costume - Bring a friend and something to share
A celebration of one year of work and fellowship in Sothis Lodge and a night to honor the ancestors, the Ghede, and two of our favorite Lwas, Bawon Samdi and Maman Brigitte. Wear your best Halloween costume, bring a friend, and something to share. If you know someone who is interested in the Points Chauds work, this is an excellent opportunity to introduce them to the Lodge and the work.
At the core of this tradition is the honor and respect paid to one's ancestors, so the night's celebrations will kick off with a ritual for our ancestors, those who have gone before us. Bring photos or other reminders of your ancestors (which will be returned to you, of course), as well as offerings. Traditional Ancestor offerings include coffee (with and without sugar), bread, milk, coconuts, candy, white rice, chicken, and other white foods, but you should also bring foods or other items that you known your particular ancestors liked. Please note that "ancestors" includes not only your genetic family, but others who have played a role in your uprbringing and well-being, such as close family friends, teachers, spiritual guides, etc.
Following the service to our ancestors, we will honor the Ghede and call upon Bawon Samdi and Maman Brigitte.
About Baron Samedi:
Baron Samedi is the very powerful head of the family of ancestral lwa, the Guédé. Lwa of the cemeteries, protector of children and healer, he is considered one of the patron lwas of New Orleans Voodoo, where he is associated with St. Expedite. He is known to be a crude but hilarious lwa who engages in scandalous activities such as sending the nearly dead to do his work while he plays cards, dice, parties and dances. He is known to give winning lottery numbers when he feels like it. Baron Samedi loves to eat and he loves money, but most of all, he loves children and watches over them.
Baron Samedi is the ultimate suave and sophisticated spirit of Death, typically depicted as if ready to be buried Haitian style with a top hat, black tuxedo, dark glasses, and cotton plugs in the nostrils. He has a white, mostly skull-like face and speaks with a nasal tone of voice, and tells crude but funny jokes.
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. He is noted for disruption, obscenity, debauchery, and for having a particular fondness for tobacco, especially Pall Mall cigarettes, money, and white rum. The Baron's ceremonial foods included grilled peanuts, black coffee, and bread. One of his favorite drinks is rum in which hot peppers has been steeped. Baron Samedi is also the loa of sex and resurrection.
We'll also be collecting a donation fo Zanmi Lasante, an organization that provides grassroots medical assistance in Haiti.
For more information or directions, contact us or RSVP on Facebook.
