New Orleans: Marie Laveau and the cemeteries
A city where Louisiana Voodoo grew from West African, Haitian and Catholic roots, and where the tomb of Marie Laveau is the best known place.
Practised and told of here
Best time: Spring and autumn. Avoid Mardi Gras and Halloween crowds.
Marie Laveau, a free woman of colour born about 1801, was a hairdresser, a Catholic and the best known Voodoo practitioner of the nineteenth century in New Orleans. She was said to have healed, advised and held ceremonies, though much of her life is known through later legend. She died in 1881.
The tomb
Marie Laveau is said to be buried in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, a historic cemetery with above-ground tombs. Visitors leave marks and offerings, and the practice of drawing three X's on the tomb damaged the structure. The Archdiocese closed the cemetery to unaccompanied visitors in 2015 and now requires a licensed guide.
Voodoo in the city
Louisiana Voodoo, with its spelling, is a distinct local tradition, related to but not the same as Haitian Vodou. Its practitioners have been mocked and sensationalised, and tourist shops mix real practice with stage props. The word 'voodoo doll' is more popular fantasy than tradition.
Visiting
Guided tours are the only way into the cemetery. Ceremonies are private, and visitors should not walk into a temple or follow someone to a ritual.
A respectful visit to New Orleans: Marie Laveau and the cemeteries
Living communities are not a show. Ask before photographing a person or a ceremony, and follow local rules.
- St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Enter only with a licensed guide, and do not mark the tombs.
- Historic New Orleans Voodoo Museum Read the history and the labels.
- Congo Square Visit the park and its plaque about Sunday gatherings.
- Local shops Buy from owners who describe their tradition clearly.
Written by the EveryJaadu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Louisiana Voodoo" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and ceremonies change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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