Haiti is a country with many voodoo practitioners. One of the most important loa (spirits) in voodoo, is Damballah. Damballah is the sky god and considered the earliest creator of life. Damballah rules the mind, intellect, and cosmic equilibrium. He is the considered the patron protector of the handicapped, deformed, crippled, albinos, and young children. When he presents himself in possession, he does not talk, but makes hissing and whistling noises. Damballah is often combined with catholic figures like St Patrick and Moses. The colour that represents Damballah is white. Which is partly why most food offered to him, are more or less white in colour. The day that represents Damballah is Thursday.
Food (and foodstuff) offered to Damballah often includes the following:
- White Rice
- Milk
- White Pigeon
- Flour
- Eggs
- Honey
- Cakes
- Sugar-Based Candy
- Cream-Based Candy
- Spiced Codfish (with rice & beans)
- Cold Water
- Coconut
- Coconut Milk
- Bread
- Cookies
- Anisette
- Corn Syrup
- Shea Butter
- Kola Nuts
- Vodka
- Scotch Whisky
- Baileys
- Almond Syrup
One interesting fact is that Damballah is often represented by serpents. His veve (symbol) includes 2 serpents. And he is also associated with St Patrick (the saint who is said to have driven snakes out of Ireland) and Moses (who managed to turn his staff into a serpent when confronting the Pharaoh of Egypt)
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