In the religion of Voodoo (a mixture of African shamanism and Catholic beliefs) the powerful spirits are referred to as loa. Some loa are more powerful than others, and a leared vodun could go through and list the cosmology and explain the mythology of each pagan god, but it will all sound like another world to outsiders. Particularly those whose impression of Voodoo comes from pulp fiction and bad Hollywood films, or even worse from pundits on the religious right that helped to create the Satanic Panic. However there is at least one major player in Voodoo that most people will know by sight, even if you don’t know his name. For those who will be wondering later, his name is Baron Samedi.
The Baron has some very particular looks when he’s represented. Most times he’s shown as a tall, handsome black man decked out in a tuxedo and top hat that will be either black or white. Sometimes he has a cadaverous, skull like face with plugs up his nose in the tradition of Haitian burial. Other times he will be shown as a skeleton dressed in the same way. The Baron is fond of cigars and cigarettes (he doesn’t care which is healthier), strong alcohol (particularly rum), and debauchery while still keeping a soft spot in his heart for children. He is sometimes referred to as Baron Saturday, or the Baron of Saturday Night because Samedi is the French word for Saturday, though the names of the days of the week technically come from an older list of gods.
Now that you have a working knowledge of Baron Samedi’s fashion sense, it’s even more important to know what he does. He is the eldest of the family of Ghede, which are considered the loa of death. Baron Samedi stands at the crossroads of life and death, watching as the souls of the departed pass from our world to Guinee (the afterlife). This is why the Baron is depicted dressed in his best funerary suit, but it’s also why he represents debauchery and the enjoyment of life. According to the theories of Baron Samedi death is the universal constant; everyone is going to die no matter who they are or how much money they have. So the Baron reminds everyone to live a little bit, because sooner or later they won’t be able to.
Baron Samedi tends to be viewed as honest and straight with people who come to him for aid, possibly because death is the universal truth and there’s no more need to lie. The Baron is also known to be crude, though more than amusing, and he speaks in a nasal voice because of his nose being plugged with white cotton. Bringing things full circle Baron Samedi is also a sexual god, representing male power (and being extra suave to boot) as well as the ideas of birth and resurrection. However, he doesn’t appear to have much opinion on the question of zombies.
The image of Baron Samedi is everywhere in popular culture. He’s been everything from a villain in James Bond and in comics like Spawn (the design of the villain Chapel), to a popular voodoo doll to a character in modern fantasy series of all stripes. He’s so popular in New Orleans that he’s considered to be the patron loa of the city, and in Haiti the first funeral in a cemetery is always dedicated to the Baron as a sign of respect. You never know when you’ll have to call on him to ask questions or a favor, so it’s always a wise plan to stay on his good side.
“Baron Samedi,” by Anonymous at Planet Voodoo
“Baron Samedi,” by Anonymous at Mystic Voodoo
“Baron Samedi,” by Anonymous at Vodun