Haitian

Artist unknown

Haiti
Marasa (ceremonial vodou flag) 95.0001

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The Sacred Twins, or Marasa, along with the vodou spirit Legba are the guardians of the crossroads and thresholds where the world above meets the world below, where the world of the living meets the world of the dead. Both Legba and the Marasa must be invoked before any vodou service can begin. They are the ones who have the power to open the spiritual road. Vodou twin beliefs developed from twin folklore in West and Central Africa. The Creole word for twins, marasa, is derived from the Kikongo word mabassa that means "those who come divided." Twins are considered one of many categories of sacred children. Most ceremonies centered on sacred children take place at Christmastime, the time of the celebration of the most sacred child, Jesus Christ. December 6th, the Feast of St. Nicholas, who is said to be the father of the Marasa in vodou and the patron saint of children in Roman Catholicism, marks the beginning of the ritual season for twins. December 28th, the feast of the Massacre of the Holy Innocents (commemorating the slaughter of children decreed by King Herod), is another popular day for twin ceremonies.

 

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