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WorksheetsHaitian Voodoo Introduction Quiz
Total questions: 51
Worksheet time: 17mins
Haitian Voodoo is a syncretic religion that is a blend of Catholicism and ___________.
West African religions
The Great Spaghetti Monster (not the answer)
Celtic religions
Aztec religions
Vodou originated in __________ and developed in the _______ ________ in the 1700's among West African slaves.
Caribbean --- French Empire
South America --- French Empire
Caribbean --- British Empire
United States --- British Empire
How many gods are there in Haitian Voodoo?
1
12
13
72
What is the name of the one god in Haitian Voodoo?
Bondye (French--pronounced "Bon Dieu" meaning "Good God")
Papa Ghede
Papa Legba
Baron Samedi
Voodoo is a SYNCRETIC religion that resulted when West African slaves were forced to convert to __________.
Christianity/Catholicism
Hinduism
Islam
Taoism
Bondye doesn't intercede in human affairs, so worship is directed to these subservient spirits (called _________).
Loa (Lwa)
Saints
Zombies
Angels
The spirits of the major forces of the universe and aspects of life--good, evil, sex, health...
Loas (Lwas)
Ghosts
Gods
Zombies
The loa are referred to by practitioners as the ____________.
"mysteries" and "the invisibles"
"saints" and "angels"
the "gods of the earth"
"zombies of the afterlife"
There are different families of loa. Ghede loas are associated with spirits of the dead and ________. [select THREE]
are loud, rude, sexual, and usually a lot of fun.
Close passageways to the afterworld and prevent humans from crossing over.
black and purple are their traditional colors.
are traditionally led by the Barons (La Croix, Samedi, etc.).
The Rada loa are generally older, as many come from Africa, and are _____________ (THREE answers).
mainly water spirits
less aggressive than other loa
often served with water and things that are white
associated with death and disease.
The Petro family of loa _________ (choose 3 answers).
have their origin within the New World
are associated with the element fire and the color red
are generally more aggressive than the peaceful Rada loas
are all evil males
What are FEMALE priestesses of Haitian Voodoo called?
Mambos
Houngans
Witches
Warlocks
What are MALE priests of Haitian Voodoo called?
Mambos
Houngans
Witches
Warlocks
If someone is "mounted" during a Haitian Voodoo ceremony, what does this mean?
One has been "possessed" or controlled by a lao.
One is cursed.
One is being ridden like a horse by a loa to the Otherworld.
One has been turned into a zombie.
_____ is the loa of death and resurrection (crossroads between life and death). Very erotic and comic loa.
Baron Samedi (aka Papa Ghede)
Osiris
Legba
Agwe
Why is Baron Samedi often depicted with cotton in his nose?
To protest the slavery conditions that existed in the United States.
It smells REALLY bad in the afterlife.
He is dressed like corpses in the morgue.
Papa Legba's "old person" smell offends him.
The father figure loa/ the good snake. An egg is offered to him when he comes to mount a person.
Dumballah
Kalfu
Legba
Madam Brigitte
Dumballah (the good snake loa) was associated with this Catholic saint: ______ (hint: SNAKES).
St. Nick
St. Patrick
St. Christopher
St. Francis
Rada ("white" or "good" magic) constitutes approximately ____% of Haitian voodoo rituals.
95%
55%
85%
75%
Virtually all Haitian Voodoo ceremonies involve animal sacrifice.
TRUE
FALSE
Why do Haitian Voodoo ceremonies require animal sacrifice?
Releasing life gives the loas energy and rejuvenates them.
Haiti is overpopulated by animals.
The loas are bloodthirsty and enjoy death.
Humans do not taste as good.
Some Voodoo practitioners say the dead leave their bodies but are trapped anywhere a voice may call out ______________.
for a year and a day.
forever.
until proper sacrifice is made.
until Bondye comes back and walks on the earth.
__________ is the gatekeeper between the earth and the invisible world (therefore, this loa is used for most ceremonies).
Papa Legba
Papa Ghede (aka Baron Samedi)
Erzulie
Kalfu
This loa (see picture) is the Petro (evil magic) counterpart to Papa Legba. His color is red, and he favors rum that is infused with gunpowder.
Dumballah
Ogoun
Kalfu
Erzulie
The earth mother/ Spirit of the goddess of love/ muse of beauty/ identified with the Virgin Mary.
Erzulie
Madam Brigitte
Aiyda
Ti-Jean-Petro
Loa of the crossroads between LIFE and DEATH. Loa of EROTICISM and the PROTECTOR OF CHILDREN. Very comic loa.
Baron Samedi (aka Papa Ghede)
Ti-Jean-Petro
Papa Legba
Bondye
Which of the following is NOT true about Zaka, the watchful loa of agriculture (only one answer).
When mounting someone he often spills out the local gossip.
He is often rude. He often runs away to hide with food and eats it quickly.
He notes who is treating whom in what manner.
He does not show up to many ceremonies.
This is a warrior loa and the loa of metal working. Today, too, he is the force of politics. Violent.
Ogoun
Gran Bwa
Ghede
Kalfu
Which of the following is NOT true about Oguan? (ONE answer)
He prefers dogs for sacrifices to him.
Said to have gave the idea to slaves for their revolution.
Only female animals are sacrificed to him.
The first loa to come to Earth to find a place for humans.
This loa is a black magic Petro loa depicted as a dwarf with one foot:
Ti-Jean Petro
Baron Samedi
Kalfu
Agwe
He is the spirit of vegetation, the guardian of sanctuaries, and is associated with trees:
Papa Loko
Papa Ghede
Agwe
Kalfu
Which of the following is NOT TRUE about Papa Loko? (ONE answer)
It is said that hougans and mambos receive their knowledge from him.
He transforms into the wind and listens without people knowing.
He hates injustice and often is called during conflicts to be the judge.
He loves to lie and trick humans.
He is known as the SERPENT and is one of the most popular loa; he is a kind, innocent, and loving father.
Dumballah
Dumbledore (not the answer)
Papa Ghede
Papa Legba
When Dumballah "mounts" someone, the special offering to him is ____ which he ______.
an egg--crushes with his teeth
a cigar--swallows whole
a bottle of rum--drinks and vomits
a snake--wraps around
Dumballah's communication is often . . . [choose THREE answers].
a comforting presence which sends a spirit of optimism.
accompanied by the mounted person darting out his/her tongue.
very exact and explicit.
hard to understand and imprecise.
This loa is the WIFE of Dumballah. She is the RAINBOW. Together they are the unitary forces of human sexuality.
Ayida-Wedo
Erzulie
Dumballisha
Iris
Haitian Voodoo ceremonies are held outside, under a rough roof, and around the "poto mitan" (a center pole).
TRUE
FALSE
Voodoo DOES NOT have a woman as the loa of fertility because ____.
fertility is considered a UNIFIED PRINCIPLE held EQUALLY by male and female forces.
MEN are considered SUPERIOR and MORE FERTILE.
it is TABOO to associate women with fertility or sexuality.
fertility is only the DOMAIN OF MALE LOAS.
DRUMS are used to provide MUSIC, and DANCING is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL to the whole service.
TRUE
FALSE
Haitian Voodoo services are fully exclusionary and only the houngan and mambo participate.
FALSE
TRUE
A Voodoo SORCERER FOR HIRE that serves the loa "with both hands" (for good AND evil) is called _______.
a bokor
Star Child
a loa
"morally ambidextrous"
A bokor can capture a "zombie astral" (the soul) to ______.
enhance his/her power.
control the elements.
bring good or bad luck upon a person.
have a slave in the afterlife.
A bokor will use necromancy to _________.
control a dead body as a personal slave.
save himself or herself from death.
inhabit another's body like the loa when they mount a person.
change genders.
The zombie figure in Haitian stories are very likely ____ (TWO answers).
a metaphor for the history of slavery in Haiti.
made up to scare children into behaving.
a reflection of the dual nature of the soul in Haitian Voodoo.
loas in disguise.
The creation of zombies has been referenced within rural Haitian culture, but it is NOT a part of Voodoo.
TRUE
FALSE
The myth of the voodoo doll as a tool to bestow a curse is something that has been propagated by popular culture and Hollywood.
TRUE--The "voodoo" doll pertains to a type of African folk magic called "hoodoo." It has very little to do with Voodoo and is not used by the majority of Voodoo practitioners.
FALSE--I believe EVERYTHING that I see in a movie!!! Voodoo dolls are a major part of Haitian Voodoo.
The former President for Life of Haiti, Francois Duvalier, modeled his cult of personality on:
Baron Samedi [aka Papa Ghede] (the very erotic and comic loa of the crossroads between life and death)
Papa Legba (the loa that is depicted as a kind, old man who is the loa of the crossroads between this world and the supernatural world)
Ti-Jean Petro (the dwarf with a missing leg)
Bondye (the "Good God")
Duvalier cultivated (developed) a cult of personality by ____ (choose ALL that apply).
killing all black dogs (he thought they were his opponent).
claiming to be ONE with the loa, Jesus Christ, and God.
Reviving Voodoo in Haiti and claiming to be a priest.
rewriting the Lord's Prayer to praise himself instead of God.
Francois Duvalier's rule which was based on a purged military, a militia, and his development of a cult of personality, resulted in _____.
a time of peace and prosperity.
the murder of 30,000 to 60,000 Haitians.
the murder of 1,000 to 2,000 Haitians
the murder of 5,000 to 10,000 Haitians
In order to associate himself with Baron Samedi and make himself look more powerful, Duvalier _______ (TWO ANSWERS).
wore sunglasses and talked in a nasal voice like the loa.
took massive amounts of steroids.
often wore a black top hat and smoked cigars.
slept in a coffin.
How do American pop culture zombies DIFFER from traditional Voodan zombies? [Select ALL that apply]
American pop culture makes it a romanticized escapist fantasy.
Traditional Haitian zombies are allegories about slavery and control.
American pop gives significance based on what's at stake in the story for the characters.
Traditional Haitian views demonstrate the fear of re-enslavement.
