Gris Gris Marks and Gifts on the Side of the Tomb of Marie Laveau

Gris-gris marks and gifts marked the tomb of probably the argueably the most famous person buried in St Louis #1 cementery in the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana. The life, times and burial of the Voodoo Priestess, Marie Laveau, is full of uncertainty, legend and mystery. Marie is believed to have been born free in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, the daughter of a white planter and a free Creole woman of color. The date she was born is believed by most to be in 1794 but that fact is disputed by her age as recorded in public records at the time of her death as well as other accounts. What is not disputed is that on August 4, 1819, she married Jacques Paris, a free person of color who had emigrated from Haiti. This can be proven because their marriage certificate is preserved in St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. However, some public records list Jacques as Santigo so even his name is in dispute. Jacques Paris' death in 1820 remains unexplained, a fact that has led to much speculation. Jacques was part of a large Haitian immigration to New Orleans in 1809 after the Haitian Revolution of 1804. The immigrants included French-speaking white planters, thousands of slaves, and free people of color. Among those with African ancestry were many followers of Voodooism. It is most likely that it was from her association with this Haitian community that Marie developed her interest and then her career in Voodoo. After Paris's death Marie Laveau became a hairdresser who catered to wealthy white families. She took a lover, Christophe (Louis Christophe Dumesnil de Glapion), with whom she lived until his death in 1835. They reportedly had 15 children together including Marie Laveau II who was born in about 1827. Both mother and daughter Marie were practitioners of voodoo. The story and legends get confused because the daughter was often mistaken for or posed as the mother. Not much is know of Marie Laveau's career. She was praised by many and feared by many. She became the City's most famous practitioner of Voodoo known locally as the Voodoo Queen. The word notorious is often used with her name. She died on June 15 or 16,1881, depending on whether you believe the newspapers or the local records. The New Orleans newspapers announced that Marie Laveau had died peacefully in her home but, as should have been expected with her reputation, many people claimed to have seen her in town after her supposed demise. Some claimed it was her while others claimed it was one of her daughters posing as her. Whatever, I am sure it was good for the daughters’ business. Marie’s enemies could not feel safe even after her death if she was still walking around. To add to the confusion the official New Orleans vital records show that a certain Marie Glapion Lavau died on June 15, 1881, aged 98. No record of a Marie Leveau born in 1794 dying around those dates can be found. Some say the different spelling of the last name as well as the age at death is result of the casual 19th-century approach to spelling as well as conflicting accounts of Laveau's birth. Others, well... speculations and legend still carry forward to present. It will not surprise you, after reading the above account, that exactly where Marie is buried is unknown. Most believe she is buried in the family tomb of her lover ( who she never apparently married) and father of her 15 children, The Glapion family crypt (which is shown here in this picture). Others dispute this. But disputed or not many visit the crypt in St Louis #1 everyday to light candles; leave gifts ( I have seen beads, fruit, food, flowers, a tape player cigarettes, etc. left as gifts) and to mark the tomb with 3 x's know as gris-gris marks. Gris-gris marks are left in hopes that Marie's spirit will grant them a wish or answer a prayer. Over the years I lived in New Orleans I heard stories of Marie Leveau and her magic. What is real? Who knows? Why not make up your own story about the magic of Marie Leveau. But if you don't want a curse on you, do not call her a witch, she is a Voodoo Queen!

To read my wife's article on New Orleans cemeteries see her guest blog on The Book Boost: thebookboost.blogspot.com/2013/02/cryptically-yours-with-...

Taken in: United States / Louisiana / New Orleans / Iberville (show map)

Taken on: March 6, 2010

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St. Louis Cemetery #1

tombs

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City of the Dead

family tomb

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Marie Leveau

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Voodoo Queen

Voodoo Priestess

voodooism

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Sets appears in: • Cresent City Captures (New Orleans, LA) • New Orleans Cemeteries: Cities of the Dead

Groups appears in: • 100 years ago or more of history..

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