In Fort-Liberté and Ouanaminthe, All Souls’ Day brings life to celebrating the departed

Fort-Liberté — Every year on Nov.1 and 2, Haitians across the country gather for the Day of the Dead, a unique celebration deeply woven into Haiti’s cultural fabric. The tradition, held in tandem with Catholic observances of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, blends Vodou beliefs with Christian practices, embodying the richness and resilience of Haitian spirituality.

Among the most vibrant celebrations, residents of Fort-Liberté and Ouanaminthe fill local cemeteries with music, dancing, and colorful offerings, transforming the resting places of their loved ones into scenes of lively tribute.

“It’s a unique moment to show my deceased family our love and affection,” says Geti Selmour, a devoted participant in Ouanaminthe.

Selmour, like many others, makes offerings of colorful flowers, particularly marigolds, and the favorite foods of departed loved ones. These carefully prepared offerings, often accompanied by vinegar, invite the spirits of the dead to reconnect with the living.

The day is also referred to as Fèt Gede, a spirit related to death and fertility, in Vodou’s pantheon. The rituals performed during Fèt Gede are not for the faint of heart. 

In cemeteries across the region, families unite to honor their ancestors with prayers and rituals, cleaning gravesites and decorating them with flowers. The atmosphere is anything but somber: parades, traditional dances, and music bring a lively energy, transforming cemeteries into vibrant spaces.

Vodou practitioners leading the ceremonies often dress as Baron, also known as Bawon Samedi or Brigitte, usually called Grann Brijit, to honor and celebrate life, finding joy in the process. The two spirits are iconic figures in Haitian lore symbolizing death.

At the Ouanaminthe and Fort-Liberté cemeteries, priests and priestesses gathered dressed in white, purple, and all-black at what is believed to be the oldest grave in the area. At this site, they summoned Bawon Samedi, the spirit or loa representing the dead and the guardian of cemeteries. With the practitioners, they danced. Others fell into trances and placed food before the cross to serve the dead, sharing a meal afterward.

The colors worn during these ceremonies hold deep significance: white represents purity and the spirits of the deceased, purple signifies mourning and spirituality, and black is associated with death and the mystery of the afterlife. Many participants believe they are possessed by the Gede spirits, embodying the joy and mischief that accompany the celebration of life and death.

“What I love about this celebration is seeing everyone dress up and dance. It fills me with joy,” shares Angella Phaika Belony, a visitor to the Ouanaminthe cemetery, her face bright with excitement.

More than just a commemoration of the dead, the Day of the Dead reinforces the bonds that hold Haitian families and communities together. It’s a reminder of memory, legacy, and unity—a celebration of lives past, embraced in a spirit that defies sorrow. For these believers, death isn’t an end but a passage to eternity, embraced with joy and reverence.

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