The Wailing Witch Of Carnival

Last updated on: August 31, 2017 at 9:14 am by Lilith Dorsey

The Wailing Witch Of Carnival 2017-08-31T09:14:08-05:00 Lilith Dorsey

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In the myths and legends of the African Diaspora the Witch holds a special place. Bearing little resemblance to the Modern Witches we see today, these Witches are weird, bad, and dangerous. Very often they live on the edges of society, mastering the secret knowledge that untamed nature holds.

The J’Ouvert celebrations that start Caribbean Carnival features one of these bad witches. At it’s core this ritual drama is about challenging class struggles, and fighting for survival. Fortunately, all of this is done by a woman. Dr. Dale Byam, from Brooklyn College, explains it like this ” so she’s a witch and she sheds her skin at night. When she shes her skin at night she goes out, and she does her deeds. By morning when the sun comes up she has to find her skin, and put that skin back on. So one day she did her thing, and she was looking for the skin all around. She doesn’t see it. And so she was wondering ‘J’Ouvert ! J’Ouvert!’ And that’s how they say the word comes in. J’Ouvert… has the day opened? That’s essentially how that comes out. ”

Gelede Society Dancer courtesy of wikimedia. Licensed under CC 2.0

These celebrations that take place in the Caribbean and beyond are reminiscent of the Gelede masquerades and Egungun celebrations in Africa. Both phenomenon are designed to remind people of the power of women, and to safely critique systems of oppression and colonialism. In Gelede: Art and Female Power Among the Yoruba by Henry Drewal and Margaret Thompson Drewal, they write ” songs curse, ridicule, criticize and condemn anti-social actions to resolve specific communal problems….Thus Gelede spectacle as an otherworldly phenomenon served periodically to reevaluate and shape the world. ” This makes a powerful statement about the history of feminism and the struggle.

For more information about the history of J’Ouvert, and celebrations in New York and throughout the world please see my recent post J’Ouvert, Drums, Dress and Resistance. As always if you like what you have found here please remember to like, comment and share this post. Many blessings and Have a Good J’Ouvert !

Previous Post

August 29, 2017

J'Ouvert, Drums, Dress, + Resistance

Next Post

September 3, 2017 Review: Glamour Magic by Deborah Castellano

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Ancestors astrology Candomble Crystals Divination Entertainment Goddess Herbs Hoodoo Ifa Pagan Ritual Recipes Santeria Spells Uncategorized Vodou Voodoo Witchcraft

Select a Month May 2025 January 2025 September 2024 August 2024 April 2024 March 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 September 2023 June 2023 March 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which king of Israel reigned the longest and led Israel into great wickedness?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jehu Manasseh Joash Ahab