Fèt Gede: How Haiti Honors the Dead on November 1 and 2

Every autumn, around November 1 and 2, families across Haiti turn their attention to the dead. The dates line up with All Saints and All Souls in the Catholic calendar, and they are also the days of Fèt Gede, the festival of the Gede spirits in Haitian Vodou.

Who are the Gede?

In Haitian Vodou, the Gede are a family of spirits connected to death and the cemetery. Baron Samedi, usually described as the guardian of the dead, leads the family, and he is often shown in a top hat and dark glasses. His partner is the spirit Maman Brigitte. In many Haitian cemeteries a cross known as the kwa Bawon marks the meeting point between the living and the dead.

What happens during Fèt Gede

News reports from past years describe hundreds of people gathering at the National Cemetery in Port-au-Prince. Many practitioners dress in white and paint their faces to represent the Gede. People bring candles and place offerings such as plantains, fish, bread and avocados for deceased relatives and friends. A Vodou priest may spray a mixture of rum and hot pepper, called cleren, on participants, and some people say they feel the spirits arrive.

Why it matters

Vodou is a recognized and widely practiced religion in Haiti, and Fèt Gede is part of how many families keep in touch with their ancestors. For the diaspora, the days are also a moment to light a candle, cook a favorite dish of a loved one who has passed, or call an elder and ask about family history.

Fèt Gede is a religious observance, so anyone attending as a visitor should ask before taking photographs and follow the lead of the people taking part.

Keep exploring

Read about the Fête Rara Guédé in Léogâne and why preserving Vodou heritage matters to many Haitians. Our culture section has more on Haitian traditions and holidays.

Sources: Africanews coverage of Fèt Gede at the National Cemetery in Port-au-Prince; Wikipedia entry on Baron Samedi. Dates are traditional and can vary by community.