Pictured, Vodouists pray to Baron Samedi by his cross at the national cemetery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Baron Samedi (English: Baron Saturday), also written Baron Samdi, Bawon Samedi or Bawon Sanmdi, 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 syncretized with Saint Martin de Porres. – than she does.Want to dance like Maman Brigitte? Baron Samedi wears a black top hat, black tuxedo and dark glasses - Sometimes with one of the lenses out of the glasses representing being in the light and in the dark at the same time. Women often call on her to prevent their husbands from cheatingShe’s very partial to rum spiced with hot peppers, and the colours associated with her are black, purple and white. $25,00, via Etsy. Erzulie Freda is a Rada Lwa and she represents romantic love, sweetness, and luxury. The only way Gede would be canceled is if a hurricane happened that day.

Baron Samedi is the keeper of the spirit world and ruler of the dead, so anyone wishing to connect to someone who's passed on must go through him. Erzulie Freda Erzulie Freda is the Vodou Goddess of love and beauty. Offerings of food and alcohol sit among human bones at altar in the national cemetery during Fete Gede in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.A woman dressed as Maman Brigitte smokes a pipe during a Gede celebration in the national cemetery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.Cemetery employee Kale Bwa is possessed at the altar of Baron Kriminel in the national cemetery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.People watch a Vodouist in the national cemetery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.Haitians celebrate Gede at the national cemetery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.Possessed Vodouists can become violent, especially later in the day as the alcohol kicks in, and fights are common.

Tall and muscular, with one side of his face painted white in a skull pattern, the Baron sports a high, sometimes white, silk top hat, formal black tailcoat, dark glasses, and smokes a cigar. He wears a heavy white cross on a chain around his neck and, in his left hand, he carries a white cane, topped with a skullMaman Brigitte (aka Grann Brigitte, Manman, Manman Brigit, Manman Brijit) is Queen of the Cemetery and partner of Baron Samedi. It’s said that, if you ask him a serious question, apparently you’ll get a serious and reliable answer.Another of Samedi’s great powers is as the protector of children.

LEARN HOW TO SUMMON BARON SAMEDI AND MAMAN BRIGITTEVoodoo has a reputation for being a slightly sinister form of religion, but there’s much more to it than just sticking pins in dolls. Depending on the tradition followed, Baron is: one of the Guédé; their spiritual protector, who has raised them from the dead with the help of Baron Samedi’s wife, Maman Brigitte. Her father said he will not be celebrating Gede this year.Evicted remains on top of a grave in the national cemetery. Brigitte is strong and protective and deals harshly with those who fail to respect the dead. He also rules over sex, debauchery, and obscenity, and is known for smoking, drinking, and having a very dirty sense of humor. – and likes nothing better than a plate of salt herring, hot peppers, roasted corn, and roasted bananas. During Fete Gede, believers spray the cross with rum mixed with hot peppers and leave various offerings.Haitian Vodouists play at Gede and are often possessed with the spirit of Gede, taking on humorous, violent or sexual personas as the loa, or spirits, mount them. He has either a skull face or face makeup of a skull. He’s partial to a large glass or twelve of rum and a good cigar.When the Baron’s in a good mood, he’s quite a clown – but he’s hard to handle when angry. Brigitte is also a mean dancer, and apparently no-one performs the voodoo dance banda better – or sexier! All rights reserved.Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Guardians of the dead and leading lights of the afterlife, this pair certainly know how to put the fun in funeral!Brigitte’s a feisty, foxy lady, usually pictured as pale-skinned with flaming red hair, sometimes wearing a heavy veil, sometimes wearing a top hat decorated with black feathers. Cemetery caretaker Kale Bwa, 26, stands in the national cemetery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, at dusk. The first woman to be buried in any new cemetery in Haiti will be dedicated to Maman Brigitte.Also a healer, Maman Brigitte’s thought to be linked to the Celtic goddess Brigid, and the saint Brigid – brought with them to Haiti by indentured women servants from Ireland and Scotland in the 1700s and 1800s. And, apparently, if the Baron refuses to … BARON SAMEDI GRAVE YARD PRAYER BOOK: THE CHILLING SPELLBOOK YOU TAKE WITH YOU TO THE GRAVEYARD! An aspect of the Guédé gods. She’s often dressed in a Victorian-style outfit in green and purple that’d be just the business for Whitby Goth Weekend.Samedi’s a sharp, sexy dude – a snappy dresser with a reputation for the laydees. Haiti's Precarious Health Care for Moms, Newborns Family members dress themselves in black and purple costumes reminiscent of Masonic garb, and surround themselves with graveyard imagery. "Bones rest atop a crypt in the national cemetery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Left: Baron Samedi Top hat, cane, Cigar in mouth. If Haitians cannot pay for a rented burial space, the crypt owners remove the remains, which are left outside or burned.Visitors pin dolls, ribbons and amulets to a tree to keep a lover enchanted with them in the national cemetery, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.A practitioner sits in contemplation in a Voodoo church near the national cemetery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.A man smiles during Fete Gede in the national cemetery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.Family members gather in the national cemetery in Port-au-Prince to bury a 13-year-old girl who was struck by a car.

Practitioners light a fire beneath Baron Samedi's cross.

And, apparently, if the Baron refuses to dig the grave, the person won’t die.Saturday is his day and his colours are black, purple and white. Her number is nine, and her special days are Monday and Saturday. Aug 1, 2013 - Baron Samedi rosary or prayer chaplet. Find this week's top photos from around the globe in ABC News' This Week in Pictures slideshow. As keeper of the cemetery, he has close contact with the dead.