User:Imanibr/sandbox

Backstory:
The word "Vodou" comes from the Fon language (spoken in Dahomey) means "spirit" or "god". As the original practice of Haitian Vodou, tribes would worship the spirits of ancestors and believed that followers were possessed by immortal spirits. During the seventeenth century, these practices were banned by white slave owners, causing the slaves to practice in private. Slave owners threatened to baptize the slaves if they did now stop worshiping Vodou. Due to these threats, slaves practiced Vodou in private while incorporating Catholic traditions into them. They incorporated hymns and prayers, which are still seen in modern day Vodou.

Vodou became "Voodoo" once it was brought to New Orleans' French Quarter. Once in New Orleans' aspects of Vodou changed, including the wearing of charms for protection, healing and harming others. A key figure in the popularization of Vodou was Marie Laveau. Laveau lived in New Orleans during the beginning times of Voodoo, becoming a pillar of the community. She learned and expanded her knowledge on Voodoo from

Misconceptions:
Modern day Voodoo is usually associated with satanism and witchcraft. This is because of how voodoo is presented in media and pop culture. In pop culture, Voodoo is often portrayed as "black magic" and placing "hexes".