Famous or Infamous? — Marie Laveau
The Voodoo Queen of New Orleans
Marie Laveau (1801–1881) is one of the most legendary and enigmatic figures in American folklore. Known as the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, she was a woman of color who rose to extraordinary power and influence in a city defined by its diverse mix of cultures, religions, and political tensions. To some, she was a healer, spiritual leader, and saintly protector. To others, she was a sorceress who wielded fear and superstition to control the city. Her story blurs the lines between history and legend, leaving her forever in the space between fame and infamy.
Origins and Early Life
Marie Laveau was born a free woman of color in New Orleans at the dawn of the 19th century. Her ancestry was Creole — a blend of African, Native American, and European heritage that shaped the city’s identity. She married a man named Jacques Paris, who soon disappeared under mysterious circumstances, leading some to whisper of foul play. Widowed, she later formed a long-lasting partnership with Christophe Glapion, with whom she raised a large family.
The Rise of a Queen
By the 1820s, Laveau had become a figure of immense influence in New Orleans. She was a hairdresser by trade, serving wealthy white women of the city, but her reputation grew from her knowledge of herbal medicine, spiritual rituals, and her connections in both Catholic and African religious traditions. She blended Catholic saints and African deities seamlessly, turning her practice into something uniquely Creole — and uniquely powerful.
Voodoo and Power
Laveau held ceremonies at Congo Square, where drumming, dancing, and spiritual possession created awe and fear among onlookers. She dispensed charms, potions, and gris-gris bags said to bring love, protection, or ruin. Politicians, businessmen, and everyday citizens sought her counsel, believing she could sway fortune, uncover secrets, or tip the scales of justice. Her network of informants — maids, servants, and confidantes in the homes of New Orleans’ elite — gave her insider knowledge that only enhanced her aura of supernatural power.
Fear and Reverence
To many, Marie Laveau was a saintly protector who healed the sick, prayed for the condemned, and opened her home to the poor. To others, she was feared as a witch who trafficked in dark forces. Rumors spread that she kept snakes, communed with spirits, and could bend the will of anyone who crossed her. Even after her death, tales persisted that she still walked the streets of New Orleans, appearing at her tomb in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, where pilgrims still leave offerings today.
The Mystery of Two Marie Laveaus
Part of her legend lies in the confusion between Marie Laveau herself and her daughter, Marie Laveau II, who continued her mother’s spiritual practices. The blending of their lives and deeds magnified the myth, creating the sense of an immortal Voodoo Queen who could not be contained by time.
Symbols & Associations
- Colors: Red, black, and white — sacred in both Catholic and African traditions.
- Symbols: The snake, the cross, gris-gris bags, candles, and the veve (ritual symbols).
- Titles: The Voodoo Queen, Mother of New Orleans, The Spirit of the Crescent City.
Famous… or Infamous?
To her followers, Marie Laveau was a healer, leader, and a saintly woman who embodied the spiritual heart of New Orleans. To her enemies, she was a sorceress whose power was dangerous and unnatural. Famous, infamous, or both — her name endures as one of the most powerful figures in American legend, a woman whose spirit still seems to walk the streets of the French Quarter.