Marie Laveau’s Influence and Legacy

Emma
4 min readApr 30, 2021

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Marie Laveau was an influential figure in her life and, although she died June 15, 1881, and was buried in St. Louis Cemetery №1. Even after her death, her legacy lives on in New Orleans, with Voodoo practitioners still worshiping her. As a priestess her powers were said to include: healing, helping the poor, and she could oversee spirit rituals. It is believed that she still has those powers from beyond the grave. Many of the ways she is celebrated today is because of her daughter Marie Laveau II, who took over as the Voodoo Queen after her mother’s death.

Every year thousands of Voodoo practitioners, tourists, and occultists go to Laveau’s tomb in hopes that she will grant them their prayers. For many years this was done through drawing the letter X on the walls of the tomb and leaving offerings. This religious practice is now heavily fined as of 2014 when some restoration work was done. The fine was placed due to preservationists claiming that “say it has no basis in voodoo tradition and damages the delicate tomb.” Voodoo is a complex religion and writing an X on the tomb clearly has basis in the tradition for some, because it was practiced. The tomb was also around for over 130 years before preservationists decided it was delicate. This could be due to Voodoo not being a Eurocentric religion so their religious rituals are not protected as much as the architecture. Unfortunately, there is not much research into this because Voodoo has such a small following.

Another way Laveau is honored is New Orlean’s largest religious celebration: St. John’s Eve. St. John’s Eve is on June 23 and celebrates the Summer Solstice. This festival was started by Laveau with a feast and head washing and is carried on to this day. Some believe that if someone draws X’s on her grave on this day her ghost will appear to grant their wish, however most use the day as a celebration and to give offerings. The head washing part of the ceremony is believed to have its roots in Christian baptism. Now it is seen as an initiation into the religion for some while others find it cleansing. St. John’s Eve is a cultural celebration on Laveau, however she has also been recognized in pop culture.

In American Horror Story: Coven Laveau is portrayed as an extremely powerful witch. There is some dispute about whether her character is based on Marie Laveau or her daughter, but most assume the former. She is respected by the other characters but is quick to take revenge on people. She is also immortal in this variation because she steals babies. The real Laveau was seen as kind because she blessed the poor, and healed the sick. The American Horror Story depiction of her is similar to the way Voodoo has been demonized by many white Americans. Voodoo has been portrayed as a violent and dangerous religion which uses “black magic” to curse people. American Horror Story reinforced this idea by making Laveau a powerful but dangerous character.

Even in death Marie Laveau is a powerful and respected figure. This is partially due to the belief that she maintains power to help people from beyond the grave. It is also due to the rituals and celebrations that she made popular still being practiced today in her honor. Overall, Marie Laveau’s legacy lives on in Voodoo traditions and beliefs well after her death and still inspires people to follow her.

Works Cited:

August Darbonne and Kathryn O’Dwyer, editor, “The Ancestors: Marie Laveau’s Tomb,” New Orleans Historical, accessed April 27, 2021, https://neworleanshistorical.org/items/show/1612.

Eschner, Kat. “Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau Created New Orleans’ Midsummer Festival.” Smithsonianmag.com. Accessed April 27, 2021. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/voodoo-priestess-marie-laveau-created-new-orleans-midsummer-festival-180963750/.

“Marie Laveau.” American Horror Story Fandom. https://americanhorrorstory.fandom.com/wiki/Marie_Laveau.

“Marie Laveau.” History of American Women (blog). https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2012/07/marie-laveau.html.

“Marie Laveau’s Tomb.” Atlasobscura.com. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/marie-laveaus-tomb.

“The Ghosts of Marie Laveau’s House.” Ghostcitytours.com. Accessed April 27, 2021. https://ghostcitytours.com/new-orleans/haunted-places/marie-laveau-house/.

Wooten, Nicholas. “St. John’s Eve Head-washing June 23 Honors Voodoo and Its Queen, Marie Laveau.” NOLO. Accessed April 27, 2021. https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/festivals/article_17479978-a229-5f08-ae32-210169e812ce.html.

Photos:

Angela Bassett as Marie Laveau in American Horror Story. Photograph.https://americanhorrorstory.fandom.com/wiki/Marie_Laveau.

Everson, Bart. New Orleans. the Old Bayou St. John Swing Bridge Is Crowded with Celebrants and Onlookers, for St. John’s Eve Voudou Ritual. June 23, 2007. Photograph. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Johns_Eve_Crowded_Bridge.jpg.

Harenza, Mandy. Grave Pique of Louisiana Voodoo Queen, Marie LaVeau. 2001. Photograph. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MarieLaveauGrave.jpg.

Laveau, Marie: Portrait of Marie Laveau. Photograph. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marie-Laveau#/media/1/2076470/218340.

Lucid Nightmare. Marie Laveau’s Tomb in 2005. March 31, 2005. Photograph. https://www.flickr.com/photos/lucid_nightmare/11335775/.

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