Vodou Culture 101: The Guest

As we clean my godfather’s property for the spring, I’ve found myself talking to other students about the idea of the guest and the rights or responsibilities of a guest in southern cultures. This is actually a place where vodou culture and Louisiana culture overlap. Since it’s topical, with the summer schedule and visitors coming up, I thought I’d start there.

Fundamentally, a guest is someone who is honoring you with their presence. This does not mean they get to act however they want or stay indefinitely, but it does mean that you treat them like you know they’re honoring you with their time.

You offer them a drink, a bite to eat if you have it. You inquire after their health or make pleasant small talk. You practice politeness (please, thank you, etc.) You recognize that they are entering a space they may not fully understand, nor are they necessarily familiar with the rules for that specific space, so you may provide help, if necessary—where to find the bathroom, how to do something, what to bring or do.

A guest has responsibilities, too. A guest brings a gift (money, a bottle of wine, food, flowers, etc) because they recognize that their presence means the host is spending resources (money, time, food) on hosting them. A guest listens to directions, recognizing that they are new to a space. A guest does not leave a huge mess, recognizing that the host is going to end up cleaning up after them. A guest practices politeness (please, thank you, etc) and obeys the rules of the space, recognizing that they do not own it.

At a party, a guest is not expected to do the work of the party—they don’t get possessed (unless invited or hired to do so), they don’t do the salutes (unless invited or hired to do so.) They do not lead the songs (unless invited or hired to do so.) The only thing a guest is responsible for at a party is themselves.

The host does the work of the party.

Both the guest and the host have something in common: they know that their interaction is an exchange of time, money, resources, and energy. The host does not have infinite resources to give, and neither does the guest. They demonstrate to one another that they understand the exchange, and all that niceness and politeness demonstrates to the spirit that both parties aren’t ignorant or exploitative (because the spirits do watch, and have a much better view of the exchange of time and energy than we do.)

A host who acts poorly tells the spirit something about their character. A guest who acts poorly does the same. If you are a guest, bring your honor and respect with you. If you are a host, show your honor and respect. Expect the spirits to respond to you according to the behavior they see you exhibiting when you are a guest or a host.

Vodou is a deeply respectful culture.