When and where will the celebration take place?
The event is on Saturday, November 1st, from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm in the Grand Hall of the New Orleans Healing Center, located at 2372 St Claude Ave (Map), with a procession to St. Roch Cemetary from 10 pm to 10:30 pm.
Is there an admission fee?
No, the event is free and open to the public.
Is there an age restriction for attending the event?
The celebration is family-friendly but guests under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
What should I wear to match the event’s theme?
To get into the spirit of the ceremony, attendees are encouraged to wear white with a purple head scarf, or purple and black, which are the Gede’s colors
What happens during the celebration?
- A happy hour from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
- Dead/Ancestor Altars created by various artists.
- A Day of the Dead/Fet Gede market with various vendors
- A ceremony from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm led by Sallie Ann Glassman and initiated members of La Source Ancienne Ounfo.
- A procession from 10:00 pm to 10:30 pm to feed the Dead and offer prayers.
Should I bring an offering?
You are welcome to bring an offering for the Gede or your ancestors. Offerings can be placed on the main altar. The Gede are known to enjoy items such as rum, cigars, sunglasses with one lens, flat breads, and peppers.
Will there be food and drinks available?
Yes. There will be food vendors on-site, and a by-donation bar will be serving shots of Barbancourt rum.
Is the venue accessible?
Yes, the New Orleans Healing Center is an accessible venue.
What is Day of the Dead/Fet Gede?
Fet Gede is a Haitian Vodou festival celebrating the ancestors, also known as the “Festival of the Dead” or “Festival of the Ancestors.” The celebration offers a comforting reminder that our Dead are not gone, and we can honor and visit with them as a community. In turn, our memory of them keeps their spirits alive and present.
The event coincides with the Mexican Days of the Dead, which occur at the end of October and the beginning of November, when the veil between the living and the dead is believed to be most diffuse.
Who are the Gede spirits?
The Gede are a family of Haitian Vodou spirits who are the patrons of the Dead. They are known as tricksters who stand at the crossroads of life and death. While they are patrons of death, sex, and regeneration, they are also great healers in life-or-death situations. They are often depicted wearing top hats and tails or gravedigger’s garb with sunglasses. Their colors are purple, black, and white.
Why is it important to honor our ancestors?
The organizers believe that a long line of ancestors stands behind each of us, guiding us. By honoring the Dead, we can embrace the meaning of our own lives and open up space for generations yet to come.