Probably, of all the inhabitants of the otherworldly worlds that have many fans today, the most striking and controversial is the Haitian Baron Samedi (Baron Saturday), nicknamed the master of the cemeteries.
Of course, for this type of activity, he could be called a representative of evil spirits, but according to the voodoo cult, which gave birth to this creature, the cheerful Baron is considered a restless loa spirit, an intermediary between gods and man. Perhaps this "inconsistency" and the cynical character, coupled with the "lifestyle" of Samedi, brought him immense popularity throughout the world.
Deny the grave
It must be said that it is no coincidence that Samedi has been called the patron saint of all graveyards on earth for many centuries. The fact is that this loa has an extraordinary ability to penetrate into the human world whenever he pleases, while his "colleagues" acquire it through the rituals and "summoning" of black sorcerers. That is why the Baron is charged with the duty to "transport" the souls of the dead to the world of the dead, as well as to prepare them for their future birth.
Loa - in the voodoo religion, invisible spirits mediating between God and man, but at the same time they are not deities, but to a greater extent an analogue of Christian saints. Endowed with tremendous power and almost unlimited possibilities. Loa play an important role in voodoo rituals and are often associated with the concept of possession.
In Haiti, for centuries, it has been customary to dedicate the first grave of each new cemetery to Samedi, and the person buried in it “automatically” becomes the keeper of this churchyard. A special cross was installed on the grave of this "lucky man" to mark the crossroads.
However, despite the title of the master of cemeteries, Samedi, to put it mildly, dislikes death. It is believed that a person affected by the most terrible ailment can turn to him, and he (if, of course, he is in a good mood) will make the disease recede. That is why in Haiti, when a terminally ill patient suddenly and unexpectedly recovers, they say: "Samedi refused to dig his grave."
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But not too many daredevils turn to Samedi with requests. After all, if he thinks that they disturbed him in vain or that the person is not worthy of his help, the Baron will quickly send the petitioner himself to the world of the dead, or he will tear off his hand. But experts in the voodoo cult argue that … a cow's leg will help to avoid such a fate. Like, if you hold it in your hands, such a "amulet" can make the Baron laugh and he will soften the "prepared" punishment.
But if we are talking about the life and health of young children, then no amulets are needed. It is believed that the Baron loves children very much, and therefore willingly responds to the requests of parents, almost always "refusing to dig the grave" of their sick child.
Test - a glass of rum
Another contradiction of Baron Samedi lies in his inexhaustible love of life. Surprisingly, nothing human is alien to this loa. So, unlike their “colleagues”, who prefer to dress up in classic loincloths and ritual beads, the owner of the cemeteries dresses in elegant suits and snow-white shirts, his head is adorned with a high top hat, and in Samedi's hand there is always a dandy cane.
Going into our world, this loa mod always wears graceful sunglasses that are the highlight of his look. In addition to clothes, the Baron also has other completely human hobbies and weaknesses - dances, obscene jokes, three-story curses, and thanks to these predilections, the "non-standard" behavior of the cemetery owner sharply distinguishes him from the host of other loa.
But still, for centuries Samedi has been and remains a "visiting card" of … good expensive cigars, with which he does not part under any circumstances, and strong rum, of which he can drink an incredible amount.
Samedi is also called the patron saint of sexuality and childbirth, and this is no accident. Although it is believed that the Baron has an "official" wife - Mama Bridget, the owner of the cemeteries is not indifferent to the female sex, as evidenced by his numerous love affairs on the side. According to Creole legends, the Baron visits more than 10 beauties per night, but in the morning he always returns to his faithful wife.
One of the Baron's favorite jokes is to get hooked up for a while in the body of some poor fellow. After that, a teetotaler and an exemplary family man suddenly, for no apparent reason, suddenly begins to drink rum in buckets and pursue all the surrounding ladies, regardless of their appearance and age.
To make sure that it is the joker-loa who is to blame here, the "victim" is given a glass of rum infused with 40 chili peppers. An ordinary person cannot even take a sip of such "medicine", but for the Baron it is an excellent drink. However, realizing that he was "declassified", Samedi immediately goes home.
Zombie Maker
It must be said that so much is known about the Baron's predilections for a reason. In Haiti, there is a legend about how Samedi from time to time reincarnates as a mortal man who becomes a powerful voodoo sorcerer. This is how he got to the island of Hispaniola (the former name of Haiti) many centuries ago. Being in the body of an African sorcerer, the Baron was sold to a slave trader and on his ship went to explore new lands.
He also became the first person buried in Port-au-Prince - the capital of the island. The legend says that along with the sorcerer on that ship was his little son, who could not bear the difficult journey and died while sailing. However, Samedi managed to save the boy's skull, which became a powerful talisman. Only the strongest voodoo sorcerers can own this artifact, since it provides them with a connection with the Baron.
Voodoo researchers believe that the most famous incarnation of Samedi and the owner of the skull of his son was President François Duvalier, who ruled Haiti for several decades. The former doctor in 1957 easily seized power in the country, relying on the guard of the Tonton Macoutes.
In Haiti, it was rumored that these police warriors were nothing more than a zombie army. The Baron also helped the dictator to get rid of enemies. Having quarreled with Kennedy, Duvalier performed a special ceremony, and he was soon killed.
In Haiti, they believe that Samedi can help create zombies even for an inexperienced voodoo sorcerer. To do this, you need to perform a special ritual to catch the soul of a person, then place it in a bottle, on the cork of which the Baron will put a special seal - and a reliable, eternal and free worker is ready.
Saturday is a hard day
The day of the owner of the cemeteries is Saturday. It is believed that it was she who gave him the name (Samedi is translated from Creole as "Saturday"). That is why in Haiti, fans of the cheerful Baron often gather on this day off at the cemetery at the grave dedicated to Samedi, and arrange a grandiose celebration.
It begins with the fact that the Baron is offered abundant sacrifices - roasted peanuts and corn, strong coffee, red pepper pods, fresh bread and, of course, rum and cigars. Then the Baron's guests sing old songs in his honor, drink strong alcoholic drinks, smoke and glorify the Lord of the Dead in every possible way.
The culmination of the holiday is incendiary dances, the most important of which is the passionate samba - the Baron's favorite dance. They say that Samedi himself often leaves the other world in order to take part in the holiday. Like, he can not resist cheerful music, the sea of booze and beautiful dancing Creole girls.
Voodoo aficionados believe that Saturday is the best day to communicate with the spirits of deceased ancestors. So, if a person has any questions for one of the deceased relatives, then on Saturday evening he should go to the cemetery, make sacrifices there to the Baron and ask him for permission to spend the night at the grave of a relative.
It is believed that a daredevil who is not afraid to carry out such an extreme ritual will not only receive the desired answer, but also gain protection from the dark forces for the rest of his life.
Elena LYAKINA, magazine "Secrets of the XX century", №41
