JF sent me a photo of an intricately beaded and sequined banner (Drapo Vodou) on silky fabric that pictures a faded red heart with blue accents to the center. He inherited this from a worldly and wealthy Great Aunt. Yet he has no idea what it is, or why she willed it to him. He thinks it might be a Valentine’s Day hanging, since his Aunt loved that holiday.
Boy do I have news for JF.
JF, you have the spirit/symbol (veve) of an ancient and powerful female goddess (loa), the Haitian Erzule Freda. Believers used this banner, called a Drapo Vodou, in religious rituals of a certain kind in Haiti, full of symbolism, a merging of Vodou and Catholicism. In the days of your great aunt Vodou priests of both sexes hand sewed these banners. Followers displayed the banners in certain sanctuaries, hung them in home altars, and waved them in parades to a ceremony.
Love, Prosperity, Sex, and Beauty
Practitioners call down Erzulie when they needs love, prosperity, sex, and beauty in his or her life. When her banner is hung, it’s traditional to offer perfume, jewelry, candies, and flowers to this loa. Believers call her down when they needs relationship help!
If the believer does it right, you might see her banner dance in the wind, because Erzulie loves to dance and flirt. Treat her right, JF, or you will see her shadow side. She defends the week as a fierce female warrior. Treat women and children well around her and you MIGHT be okay. I say might because Erzulie is fickle, as the preeminent female deity. That means she can act jealous. If you ask something of her, JF, you must pay attention to her or she’ll turn and become emotional and a bit of a diva.
Believed to have long flowing hair, she dresses in red and blue silks and loves fine soaps. She spends hours at her elaborate dressing table. Picture a wealthy girl who knows the ways of the world. She prefers men and finds pretty women her rivals. But she never acts dishonorable to her sisters. She cries with them because sometimes the world feels just too harsh. Even though she loves to make love, believers consider her a virgin, because she loves grace and beauty more. Haitian artists represent her with the heart symbol, sometimes shattered by an arrow. Do you think you can handle this inheritance from your Great Aunt, JF?
Popular Gods and Goddesses
Each of the deities pictured on these traditional Drapo Vodou are a syncretic blend of the African religion of the slaves brought to Haiti and the ceremonial Catholic iconography of their owners.
- Ogou, the god of War
- La Sirene and Agoue, m/f twins of the sea
- Legba, the Crossroads god
- Azaka, the Farmer god
- the Bull god, Bossou
- the Snake god, Damballah
- Baron Samedi of the underworld
Since many of the plantation owners once served in the French militia, scholars believe French regimental flags inspired these Drapo. We know flags represent allegiance. Scholars believe textiles that represented ‘belonging’ such as priest’s vestments and Masonic aprons influenced these Drapo as well.
Traditional Drapo Vodou Execution
The most traditional execution of these symbols (veve) was artwork drawn on the ground with a medium of powered shells. We associate Yoruba beadwork with the application of thousands of sequins. So is African applique work. You’ll notice, JF, the two snakes on either side of the heart symbol. These are considered a ‘correct’ rendition of the veve of Erzulie. Because Erzulie can be a sower of discord. The snakes represent the side of her nature that coils into herself and feeds on vengeance and bananas. Those blue shapes in the center of her heart represent those bananas.
People who remember how to draw her well remain in her favor. Because she represents the spirit of art and creativity, she’s supported by the moon’s energy, comfortable in water. Although she takes a few other forms (The Great Mother, imaged much like Mary, the Christian Virgin Mother) Erzulie Freda is not a fertility figure. In Vodou religion, both male and female together are THE fertility symbol. And Erzulie Danto, the warrior goddess, protector of the small is pictured with a fierce stare, holding a precious child in her arms. Value, JF? $600!