Day of the Kings

Voudou Epiphany – Syncretism

Here’s a program from our archives.
ambience: Vodou Epiphany music

Throughout the world, January 6th marks the Christian holiday of Epiphany, commemorating the visit of the three kings to the infant Jesus. In Haiti, the celebration of Epiphany is a blending of both Catholic and Vodou traditions. I’m Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.

The music we’re listening to was recorded at the Lakou Badjo spiritual compound in Haiti, as part of the all-night Epiphany ceremony there.

McAlister: Epiphany is an important holiday in Haiti, both for the Catholic world and for the Vodou world. And I like to think of the two worlds as kind of an overlapping continuum, with Catholicism on one end, and Haitian Vodou which is African-derived on the other end, but people sliding between those ends, and living their lives, both practicing Catholicism and Vodou.”

Liza McAlister is an Assistant Professor at Wesleyan University’s Religion Department, and a co-producer of two albums of Haitian Vodou music.

McAlister: This is the day that Jesus’ star is in the sky shining brightly, and the three kings have been following the star, towards the new Messiah. And on January 6th, this day is celebrated in Catholicism as Epiphany, and it’s also celebrated in Vodou as the Day of the Kings. But the Vodou world imaginatively reconstructs the meaning of Epiphany.
The three kings are seen as terribly powerful spirits, and their energy is harnessed on January 6th. So a Vodouist who’s celebrating on Epiphany is both celebrating the birth of Christ and celebrating the power of these three powerful male Vodou deities.

We’ve been listening to a program from our archives. If you want to hear more, check out our podcast. I’m Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.

Day of the Kings

In Haiti, the feast of the Epiphany is celebrated in both Catholic and Vodou traditions.
Air Date:01/07/2022
Scientist:
Transcript:

Voudou Epiphany - Syncretism Here's a program from our archives. ambience: Vodou Epiphany music Throughout the world, January 6th marks the Christian holiday of Epiphany, commemorating the visit of the three kings to the infant Jesus. In Haiti, the celebration of Epiphany is a blending of both Catholic and Vodou traditions. I'm Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet. The music we're listening to was recorded at the Lakou Badjo spiritual compound in Haiti, as part of the all-night Epiphany ceremony there. McAlister: Epiphany is an important holiday in Haiti, both for the Catholic world and for the Vodou world. And I like to think of the two worlds as kind of an overlapping continuum, with Catholicism on one end, and Haitian Vodou which is African-derived on the other end, but people sliding between those ends, and living their lives, both practicing Catholicism and Vodou." Liza McAlister is an Assistant Professor at Wesleyan University's Religion Department, and a co-producer of two albums of Haitian Vodou music. McAlister: This is the day that Jesus' star is in the sky shining brightly, and the three kings have been following the star, towards the new Messiah. And on January 6th, this day is celebrated in Catholicism as Epiphany, and it's also celebrated in Vodou as the Day of the Kings. But the Vodou world imaginatively reconstructs the meaning of Epiphany. The three kings are seen as terribly powerful spirits, and their energy is harnessed on January 6th. So a Vodouist who's celebrating on Epiphany is both celebrating the birth of Christ and celebrating the power of these three powerful male Vodou deities. We've been listening to a program from our archives. If you want to hear more, check out our podcast. I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.