Papa Ghede
Haitian Vodou
Ruler of the Ghede Loa Family
Loa of Death, Resurrection, Humor, and Fertility
Papa Ghede (also Guédé or Gede) is the Haitian Vodou loa (or lwa) associated with death, resurrection, fertility, and humor who also acts as an intermediary for the transition between the world of the living and the dead. In some Haitian Vodou traditions, this loa represents the soul or spirit of the first person to die, serving as the ruler of the Ghede Loa family. As such, they believe he is responsible for guarding the crossroads and guiding souls to Ginen, the realm of the ancestors, after a person passes away.
Papa Ghede is the benevolent counterpart to Baron Samedi and plays an important role in the Ghede Loa family. His roles by Vodouissants often include the following tasks:
- Guarding the crossroads
- Witnessing a person’s death
- Judging a person’s time
- Guiding the souls to Ginen (the realm of the ancestors)
- Protecting graves and cemeteries
- Overseeing resurrection and spirit possession
Practitioners of Haitian Vodou regard Papa Ghede with deep respect, honoring him in public celebrations and in private worship ceremonies.
Attributes of Papa Ghede
Most notably, Papa Ghede is the guardian of the dead and is a psychopomp that guides their souls to Ginen. In some accounts, souls of the dead first meet with Papa Legba, who opens the gates of the crossroads. After this, it is believed that Papa Ghede meets them and guides their journey to Ginen.
Vodouisants portray Papa Ghede as a protector of children, even having influence over the boundary of the realms of the living and the dead. He may be invoked to provide protection or guidance over a child who is gravely ill. In these cases, the belief is that Papa Ghede holds the power to allow a child to remain in Tè, the land of the living. Because of this, parents are known to invoke the guidance of this loa when their children fall ill.
Despite his sometimes protective nature, Papa Ghede, like other loa in the Ghede family, is known for his crude and obscene nature. He often makes sexual innuendos, crude jokes, and obscene imagery that expose hard truths people might not want to face. This behavior portrays him as a divine trickster as well.
Papa Ghede’s Appearance
Typically, this loa wears attire that resembles an undertaker, as his domain is death and cemeteries. His signature clothing and appearance consist of:
- The Cross: symbolizing the crossroads he presides over.
- Undertaker’s Coat: symbolizing his connection with the spirits of the dead
- Top Hat: symbolizing authority
- Cigars and Apples: symbolizing the pleasures of life
- Clarin (raw rum): symbolizing fiery and uninhibited nature
Since Papa Ghede is responsible for overseeing the transition between life and death, he is sometimes portrayed with gravedigger tools. His preference in colors for clothing consists of black to signify death, white to represent purity and the bones of ancestors, and purple to indicate royalty and wisdom. He may also carry a cane or walking stick at times.
Offerings to Papa Ghede
Like most loa, food offerings are traditional for Papa Ghede. He prefers luxury foods, tobacco, and strong spirits. Additionally, black and purple candles, crosses, skulls, mirrors, pictures of ancestors, sexual toys or objects, and rude jokes are acceptable offerings.
For food offerings, the most preferred tend to include:
- Apples
- Cigars (or other tobacco)
- Clairin (spice-infused rum)
- Roasted Corn
- Black Coffee
- Home Baked Goods
When leaving an offering for Papa Ghede, it is important to prepare the altar first. Altars in a hounfor (Vodou house) or cemeteries are the most acceptable places to leave offerings. Furthermore, it is critical to leave offerings with respect and pure intention. Despite his crude nature, Papa Ghede does not tolerate disrespect. Mocking this loa will most certainly garner his wrath.
Rituals for Papa Ghede
Rituals to honor Papa Ghede must be conducted with respect, as he is a powerful loa of death, fertility, and resurrection. Saturdays are the most common days to worship the Ghede family of loa. Fèt Gede (Festival of the Dead) falls upon the Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on November 1st and 2nd.
Prepare an altar draped in black or purple. Offerings left on the altar should include black or purple candles, apples, cigars or tobacco, spice-infused rum (clairin), phallic symbols, crosses, and miniature coffins.
First, one must invoke the approval of Papa Legba to open the gates to the spirit world. Next, a prayer is said to summon Papa Ghede. This prayer often incorporates “Papa Ghede, vin jwenn nou,” meaning “Papa Ghede, come join us.” Finally, rhythmic drumming accompanies chants or singing to summon the loa.
Rituals to summon Papa Ghede most commonly include guidance for healing, fertility, sexuality, protection, and shepherding the dead to the afterlife.
Cemetery Traditions
When honoring the dead during Fèt Gede or simply honoring ancestors, it is crucial to ask for the spirits’ blessings before entering a cemetery. Pennies or rice can be left to appease the spirits of the cemetery before entering. Formal attire is customary in black, purple, or white. Celebrations during Fèt Gede often incorporate dance and music to pay tribute to the boisterous personalities of the Ghede loa.
While visiting an ancestor’s grave, the family should clean the headstone and the area around the grave to show respect for the dead. Prayers, songs, and dancing invoke the presence of the loa in the cemetery. Pouring libations such as clairin (pepper-infused rum) and coffee also helps show respect for the souls of dead ancestors.
Papa Ghede’s Spiritual Symbol (Veve)
The veve for this loa consists of a grave with a cross on top of it and a skull and crossbones on either side. He also dons formal attire that consists of purple, black, and white. His signature top hat and undertaker’s coat also portray his authority over the dead.
Additionally, crosses are a significant symbol for this loa, as he is the guardian of the crossroads. Practitioners of Haitian Vodou also associate miniature coffins with Papa Ghede as a protector of children. Finally, phallic symbols are acceptable for this loa as he embraces sexuality and crude jokes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Papa Ghede?
Papa Ghede (sometimes Gede or Guédé) is the leader of the Ghede family of loa (lwa) spirits and is the guardian of the cemetery. This loa is believed to be the first mortal to experience death. His primary roles are to preside over death, the afterlife, and the souls transitioning between the mortal and spirit realms. In addition, he is considered a protector of children and the living.
Why is Papa Ghede a protector of children and the living?
Despite being a prominent spirit (loa or lwa) of death, Papa Ghede is also responsible for protecting the living, particularly children. In Haitian Vodou, the living and the dead are seen as two sides of the same coin. As such, this loa of the dead is responsible for children. Children make up the first stages of life, and Papa Ghede guides the souls of the dead in their first stages. These processes are mirrors of each other between the mortal and spiritual realms.
Why is Ghede sometimes spelled Guédé or Gede?
The spellings Gede, Guédé, and Ghede all mean the same thing but vary depending on whether English, French, or Haitian Creole is used.
- Gede is the spelling in Haitian Creole.
- Guédé is the spelling in French.
- Ghede is the spelling in English.
What is Papa Ghede's personality?
Papa Ghede, like most in the Ghede Family of loas, is known for his playful nature, witty remarks, crude language, crass behavior, and raunchy jokes. His irreverent demeanor is associated with that of a trickster, despite being considered a healer, protector, and guide for the souls of the dead.
How is Papa Ghede displayed?
Papa Ghede has a skull-painted face and is often seen wearing an undertaker's tailcoat, top hat (or stovepipe), cotton stuffed in his nose, and holding a cane with a skull on top. He is most known for wearing dark sunglasses with the left lens missing. This loa also favors smoking a cigar and eating spicy apples.
Why are Papa Ghede's sunglasses missing one lens?
Papa Ghede is famous for wearing a pair of darkened sunglasses with the left lens missing. This represents his ability to see both the mortal and spiritual realms simultaneously. The right lens remains darkened, allowing him to see the spirit realm, while the missing left lens allows this loa to see into the mortal realm.
Why is Papa Ghede associated with fertility?
In Vodou theology, birth and death are seamlessly intertwined. As the loa that guides the souls of the dead, Papa Ghede is also honored for granting fertility and bringing new life and renewal to the mortal realm
What offerings does Papa Ghede prefer?
Papa Ghede prefers offerings that provide him with the pleasures of life, like many others in the Ghede family of loas. These offerings typically include apples, roasted peanuts, toasted corn, piman (rum infused with hot peppers), clairin or kleren (raw rum), black coffee, and cigars. Leaving offerings to Papa Ghede on a pè (altar) is one of the traditional ways to honor this loa.
What colors does Papa Ghede prefer?
Papa Ghede's preferred colors are black, white, and purple, which symbolize the crossroads and graveyard. Purple in particular is associated with the Ghede loas, representing death and the afterlife. Purple is also favored by the loas Baron Samedi and Maman Brigitte.
What do people pray to Papa Ghede for?
Prayers to Papa Ghede generally request protection, safe passage, and healing. These often include:
- Safe passage for the recently deceased.
- Protection for children.
- Healing for illnesses or trauma.
- Requests for new beginnings.
- Communications with the dead.
When is Papa Ghede honored?
Fèt Gede, or the Festival of the Dead, is the holiday most Vodou practitioners honor the Gede family of spirits. During this holiday, people partake in joyous celebrations, often involving libations and feasts. This allows practitioners to celebrate life rather than mourn the sorrow of death. During Fèt Gede, many leave offerings to the loa, visit cemeteries, facilitate possessions, and attempt to communicate with the souls of lost ancestors.
How do you honor Papa Ghede?
The most traditional way to honor Papa Ghede is to leave offerings at an altar or temple. Vodou practitioners may also invite this loa to "mount" (possess) a follower. During a mounting ceremony, followers often dance and beat drums to a rhythmic tune. This music and dance help facilitate the mounting of a follower by a loa spirit.
Is Papa Ghede associated with dark magic?
No, Papa Ghede is a benevolent spirit in Vodou. Despite being associated with death, he is more commonly praised as a guide of souls, healer, and a spirit that provides renewal. While pop culture often portrays voodoo as black magic, in reality, Vodou is a proper religion that honors spirits and a single omnipotent deity.