HAPPY HOODOO HERITAGE MONTH!
If you are blessed to be a descendant of the slaves, the people who birthed the Hoodoo Tradition, then you should know about Hoodoo Heritage Month - a celebration of indigenous spiritual culture in Black america that happens every October.
October is officially the month of celebration for practitioners of Hoodoo. Hoodoo Heritage Month is a celebration of the Hoodoo tradition. It involves the veneration of ancestors and honoring spirituals traditions and ancestors. Hoodoo is a spiritual system/religion with roots in Africa. It was practiced by enslaved Africans and their descendants. The practice includes working with roots, herbs, and spirits as well as set of beliefs and rituals. Hoodoo is practiced primarily in the Southern United States however due to migrations over the generations, it is practiced in the Midwest (my granny was Geechee Gullah from Georgia & moved to Detroit) and as far as Northern California.
This is a time to focus on the authenticity of our tradition and the beauty and power of its people…The Hoodoo People. There are no hard and fast rules for how to celebrate, but there are specific observance dates to know about.
OCT 2ND: NAT TURNER DAY
This is the birthdate of Nathanial “Nat” Turner, Ancestor and prophet who on August 21st, 1831 led the most effective rebellion of enslaved peoples in the U.S. He had prophetically received visions of freedom, and after witnessing an Eclipse one day, endeavored to see those visions through.
3RD THURSDAY OF OCTOBER: HIGH JOHN THE CONKER DAY
This month HJC day lands on October 19th. On this day we observe our beloved Hoodoo deity High John (aka High John The Conqueror) - the spiritual force we honor as a joyful trickster and fearless leader of freedom (amongst other things). His observance colors are purple and gold.
OCT 21ST: DAY OF OUR FATHERS
Coined by Emanuel Basnight (founder of Bless The Roads) this is a day to honor your Ancestral and living fathers, uncs, granddaddies and brothers. It is a time to reflect on healthy masculinity, and the challenges, lessons and triumphs of your paternal side.
OCT 25TH: DAY OF OUR MOTHERS
Also coined by Emanuel, this is a day to celebrate the ones who brought us into the world—and can take us out! We honor the power of the Ancestral mothers all the way back to the first one to give birth, and we reflect on the challenges, lessons and triumphs of our own Mamas, sisters, Grannies, Aunties, and daughters.
OCT 31ST: DAY OF THE MAN AT THE CROSSROADS
On the day the west celebrates Halloween/Samhain, we also honor The Black Man At The Crossroads; another beloved Hoodoo spirit that acts as the traffic conductor of àse (ashe), the bringer of both lucks, the changer of hands, the point man and trickster that opens the road to your destiny or closes the road to other things. His observance colors are red and black.
However you celebrate this month, understand that as a Black person here, you are a descendant of people full of power, genius, skill, depth, and wealth! Honor the Ancestors who gave it to you.