Baron Samedi is one of the Loa of Haitian Vodou. Samedi is a Loa of the dead, along
with Baron's numerous other incarnations Baron Cimetière, Baron La Croix, and Baron Kriminel.
He is often syncretized with Saint Martin de Porres.
He is the head of the Guédé family of Loa, or an aspect of them, or possibly their spiritual
father. "Samedi" means "Saturday" in French. His wife is the Loa Maman Brigitte.
Portrayal He is usually depicted with a top hat, black
tuxedo, dark glasses, and cotton plugs in the nostrils, as if to resemble a corpse dressed
and prepared for burial in the Haitian style. He has a white, frequently skull-like face,
and speaks in a nasal voice. He is noted for disruption, obscenity, debauchery,
and having a particular fondness for tobacco and rum. Additionally, he is the Loa of resurrection,
and in the latter capacity he is often called upon for healing by those near or approaching
death, as it is only Baron who can accept an individual into the realm of the dead.
Baron Samedi spends most of his time in the invisible realm of vodou spirits. He is notorious
for his outrageous behavior, swearing continuously and making filthy jokes to the other spirits.
He is married to another powerful spirit known as Maman Brigitte, but often chases after
mortal women. He loves smoking and drinking and is rarely seen without a cigar in his
mouth or a glass of rum in his bony fingers. Baron Samedi can usually be found at the crossroad
between the worlds of the living and the dead. When someone dies, he digs their grave and
greets their soul after they have been buried, leading them to the underworld.
Connection to other Loa Baron Samedi is the leader of the Guédé,
Loa with particular links to magic, ancestor worship and death. These lesser spirits, all
dressed like the Baron, are all as rude and crude, but not nearly as charming as their
master. They help carry the dead to the underworld. Worship
As well as being master of the dead, Baron Samedi is also a giver of life. He can cure
any mortal of any disease or wound, if he thinks it is worthwhile. His powers are especially
great when it comes to vodou curses and black magic. Even if somebody has been afflicted
by a hex which brings them to the verge of death, they will not die if the Baron refuses
to dig their grave. So long as this mighty spirit keeps them out of the ground, they
are safe. He does also ensure that all corpses rot in
the ground to stop any soul from being brought back as a brainless zombie. What he demands
in return depends on his mood. Sometimes he is content with his followers wearing black,
white or purple clothes or using sacred objects; he may simply ask for a small gift of cigars,
rum, black coffee, grilled peanuts or bread. But sometimes the Baron requires a vodou ceremony
to help him cross over into this world. In popular culture
In the James Bond novel Live and Let Die, Mr. Big uses the image of Baron Samedi to
instill fear in his followers. In the film, actor Geoffrey Holder played a character named
Baron Samedi, which is loosely based on the voodoo.
Baron Samedi is one of the Deities in the meeting in Supernatural Season Five's "Hammer
of the gods". In Heroes, an evolved human takes on the name
of Baron Samedi to portray as a God. References
Bibliography Voodoo: Search for the Spirit. Laennec Hurbon.
Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 1995. "Ghede" A Dictionary of World Mythology. Arthur Cotterell.
Oxford University Press, 1997. "Vodou". The Voodoo Gods. Maya Deren. Granada Publishing
Limited 1975. Conner, Randy P.; Sparks, David Hatfield and
Sparks, Mariya. Cassell's Encyclopedia of Queer Myth, Symbol
and Spirit. UK: Cassell. ISBN 0-304-70423-7. External links
A Virtual Vodou Altar The Dead: Baron, Brijit and Gede