Ghede
God of the Dead and Ancestor Spirits
Loa (spirit) in Haitian Vodou
Place of Origin: Haiti
Origin Date: Ghede spirits have been venerated since the 17th century, with their prominence growing in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Domain: Death, ancestor spirits, fertility
Symbols: Skull, cross, black and purple colors
Attributes: Death, fertility, humor, mind-reading
Epithets: Papa Gede, Brav Gede, Ghede Bábáco, Guede Nibo
Equivalents: None directly equivalent in other religions
Religion: Haitian Vodou
Sacred Texts: Mentioned in various Vodou texts and oral traditions
Iconography: Depicted as skeletal figures or dark-skinned individuals with high hats
Relations: Baron Samedi (counterpart), Guede spirits (family)
Description
Ghede is a family of loa associated with death and fertility. They are often found at burial sites, escorting the deceased to their afterlife. Ghede spirits include Gede Doub, Guede-Linto, Guede L'Orage, Guede Oussou, Guede Nibo, and Guede Masaka. They are known for their crass sense of humor, divine ability to read minds, and their role as psychopomps.
Narratives:
Papa Gede: The corpse of the first man who ever died, recognized as a short, dark man with a high hat. He is a psychopomp who waits at the crossroads to take souls into the afterlife.
Guede Nibo: The first person to die by violence, patron of those who died by unnatural causes. He is the guardian of the graves of those who died prematurely.
Worship Beliefs and Practices
Ghede is worshipped through rituals involving offerings of rum and spicy food. Fèt Gede, celebrated on November 2nd (All Souls' Day), is a major festival dedicated to the Ghede spirits.