Halloween, Ghosts, And Voodoo

New Orleans paranormal, occult, voodoo, and witchcraft legends.

Fall makes us think of Fall Harvests, October Fest, and such, but October seems to take on the role of an overture to Halloween. Everyone is interested in spooky things. New Orleans certainly has its share of ghosts and ghost stories, far too many to list here, but I'll point you to a few. Adrian Nicholas McGrath has several fascinating articles about some of the more famous (notorious?) ghosts of New Orleans. One that attracts a lot of attention is The Naked Ghost, the spirit of a young slave girl who went out naked on the roof of her master's home in December, and stayed there all night, in an effort to have him marry her. She froze to death.

McGrath also writes of The Ghost of the French Opera House. The female apparition on St. Ann Street, known as the "Witch of the French Opera House", supposedly was first spotted as she emerged from the French Opera House, took a walk, then disappeared. Then, there are The Lalaurie Ghosts of the French Quarter and The Ghosts in the Old Carrollton Jail. There are many, many more, including the most famous of them all, Marie Laveau, Voodoo Queen.

If you would like to do more than read about this lore, you have the opportunity to participate. New Orleans has a number of spooky tours that take you through cemeteries, haunted buildings, and such places, usually at night, and by candlelight, for effect. For Supernatural, Vampire, Halloween, Haunted Tours, visit New Orleans Tours. The offer a Ghost & Vampire Tour and a Cemetery & Voodoo Tour.

If you do not fit into either of the above categories, there is an "in between" - museums. There are several museums in New Orleans dedicated to Voodoo, ghosts, and the paranormal. One is the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum. It is a fun site to visit, although some of the graphic links are not, at first, apparent. It even has audio. Then, there is Voodoo in New Orleans at the Wax Museum on Conti Street, in the French Quarter.

Of course, you might want to visit some New Orleans cemeteries which are are especially eerie, because the above ground tombs and crypts, like silent little mausoleums, completely obstruct one's view. The overwhelming loneliness that comes upon you, even during the day, sends shivers up and down your spine. If you look at Cities of the Dead, you will understand why they conjure up images of ghosts, goblins, witches, demons, Voodoo, and such.

A word of caution, however -- some of the older New Orleans cemeteries are in rough neighborhoods. It's best not to venture in alone, and even better if you go with organized tours and become aquainted with some safety precautions. The New Orleans Police Department offers advice to help you stay safe during your visits to the cemeteries.