Portrait of Marie Laveau. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
No history of New Orleans, I suppose, would be complete without at least mentioning Marie Laveau, the legendary Voodoo Queen of the city. So, it only follows that many folks — locals and tourists alike — would want to find her grave and pay tribute to her. As I mentioned in a previous post, I took a comprehensive, but rushed, tour of the French Quarter and St. Louis Cemetery #1 with a knowledgeable but garrulous guide from New Orleans Legendary Walking Tours who saved what he thought would be the best for last, meaning we almost didn’t have time see what is — and isn’t — Marie Laveau’s gravesite. (Bear with me. There’s a story coming.)
I didn’t know much about Marie Laveau then, but I do now. Had to look her up. And what I’ve found is admittedly fuzzy — not only for me but for scholars who still seem a bit blurry on the details, too. Here’s the short version. Although some accounts list 1801 as Marie’s birth year, most agree that the Voodoo Queen was born free on September 10, 1794 but of slave lineage. Marie was the product of an affair between her mother, Marguerite Darcantel, and a successful mulatto businessman, Charles Laveaux. In 1819, Marie married Jacques Paris who disappeared around 1824, leaving Marie to be known as the Widow Paris. But Marie entered into a domestic relationship with a man of French descent, Louis de Glapion and together they raised seven children in a house in the Vieux Carré or French Quarter.
St. Louis Cemetery #1, French Quarter, New Orleans
Known as a clairvoyant, Marie consulted with many residents of the French Quarter and led annual celebrations at places such as Lake Pontchartrain where bonfires, feasting, dancing, and ritual bathing became the stuff of legends, evidently. But here’s something I found interesting: Marie was known as a voodoo priestess, but she was also a devout Roman Catholic performing acts of compassion like ministering to the sick. And she lived a modest life despite her wealth. At one time, she even purchased a slave herself. Many saw her as a charitable woman while others only knew her as the Voodoo Queen. City records prove that she is buried in St. Louis Cemetery #1, but there is some confusion over which tomb is hers.
Tomb assumed by many to be Marie Laveau’s
Most visitors, according to our guide, point to the tomb that is heavily marked with Xs. According to one source, visitors thought that to have a wish granted, they would mark an X on the tomb, turn around three times, knock on the tomb, and shout out their wish. People visiting the cemetery brought charcoal or paint with them; others, unprepared to make their mark, broke off bits of nearby tombs in order to scratch out an X. (And this latter practice is probably one reason why authorities have closed St. Louis Cemetery #1 to visitors except with licensed guides.)
Our guide, however, says this is not the grave of Marie Laveau. This tomb, marked with Xs in rows of three may bear Christian, not Voodoo, symbolism as sets of three Xs could represent the trinity: God the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit. The markings could have been made to counter the voodoo effect of Marie Laveau. Or maybe someone Christian is buried here. He said there’s still speculation.
Scholars agree that this is the tomb of Marie Glapion Laveau. Note the trinkets left by visitors. (Source: Wikipedia: Marie Laveau)
Our guide then led us to another tomb, a plainer one by far, but one that he says scholars agree is the true tomb of Marie Glapion Laveau. And today it’s easily identified: it’s the one where tributes are left at the base– a few coins, a scattering of trinkets, faded flowers, even old cigarettes. (Evidently, being a Voodoo Queen isn’t as glamorous in death as it may have been in real life!)
Trinkets laid at base of Marie Laveau’s tomb, St. Louis Cemetery #1
And so my tour ended with the pièce de résistence — the tomb of Marie Laveau, spawning a desire to learn more about the culture and practice of voodoo. I’m still amazed that Marie was both a practicing voodoo priestess and a devoted, even charitable, caring Roman Catholic. But it is New Orleans, after all. And who doesn’t love a blend of religions, cultures, backgrounds, legends and realities? And a few exaggerations maybe?
A last glimpse of St. Louis Cemetery #1
For more information:
Haunted New Orleans Tours: Marie Laveau, New Orleans Voodoo Queen: http://www.hauntedneworleanstours.com/marielaveau/marielaveau/
Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo: http://www.hauntedneworleanstours.com/marielaveau/marielaveau/
Wikipedia: Marie Laveau: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Laveau
Webster, Richard A. “Tomb of Marie Laveau, Voodoo queen of New Orleans, refurbished in time for Halloween” (October 29, 2014). The Times-Picayune. Retrieved from http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2014/10/tomb_of_marie_laveau_voodoo_qu.html
To read more posts on New Orleans, go to Travel Series: New Orleans at the top of the blog site or click here. Thanks for traveling with us! — Bert and Rusha
Stone
Okay. White people are from EUROPE and know nothing about our history in New Orleans except for the LIES taught by Euro scholars and JEWICH owned media since the late 1800s. Marie Leveaux had no CRACKER blood, nor did she marry a Euro or had anything to do with Euro people. The truth is hidden to conceal the origin of the CATHOLIC CHURCH and history of the Indigenous Indians of Louisiana, called also CREOLES because of our LANGUAGE not skin complexion, as Euros want the world to believe, after writing themselves into our history. Euros arrived in New Orleans in the late 1800s seeking opportunity, and only a few remained after the opportunists left. Most Euros in New Orleans today are descents of those recent implants, including some white SLAVES to CREOLE MAMMIES. Stop telling all those white lies about American history. Crackers are NOT AMERICANS; you people are immigrants with a strong desire for a sense of place in your foreign land.
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks for setting me straight. I was mainly repeating all that the guide shared with us during this tour. But now you’ve got me curious again. Thanks!
anotherday2paradise
Well glad you got to the nitty-gritty in the end. Fascinating woman, and interesting that she was both a voodoo priestess and Roman Catholic. There’s n0thing like keeping your options open. 😀
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks for your comments. Marie Laveau really must have been a fascinating woman, and I want to find out what a practicing voodoo priestess actually does. I mean, if we have zombies on TV, maybe there’s room for a show on voodoo priestesses! Thanks again for reading. Means a lot.
HesterLeyNel
An interesting topic. Oh, and I do understand your frustration with the guide – that overly talkative type takes all the pleasure out of exploring and contemplating what you see.
Oh, the Places We See
I guess I shouldn’t complain about the guide — he certainly knew his stuff. But most of us were tired of standing and listening, and he was keeping us from seeing everything with his talking. Oh, well. Everyone has his/her own style, I guess. Thanks for commenting.
frenchgardenhouse
Such an interesting post, I’ve heard about Marie, but you have expanded on my desire to learn more about her. Thank you for taking us on your tour with you!
Oh, the Places We See
I want to learn more about Marie Laveau, too. And what she did during her lifetime. Might make for a good summer read! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment!
gallivance.net
Good sleuthing there Rusha. I’d heard that her grave was around, but have never sought it out. And you pose an interesting question about voodoo practicing Catholics. Many of the slaves that ended up in New Orleans came from the Caribbean, and most of the slaves in the Caribbean had their roots in West Africa – the epicenter of Juju country. And while the colonials thought it was their job and made a valiant effort to convert these heathens, centuries-old roots are hard to eradicate. Very early Christians had the same problem with pagan beliefs in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. ~James
Oh, the Places We See
You know soooo much!!! Thanks for reminding me about the Caribbean ties. I had forgotten that was not only an influence on the religion of the slaves but also their music. In fact, I think I’ve heard that cajun music is a blend of many sounds. Whatever its source — I love zydeco, cajun, an on and on! Isn’t travel fun?