A ''hounfour'' (also called ''oufo'', ''hounfor'', ''oum'phor'', or ''houmfort'') is a Vodou

temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...

. The leader of the ceremony is a male priest called a ''

houngan Oungan (also written as ''houngan'') is the term for a male priest in Haitian Vodou (a female priest is known as a (''mambo''). The term is derived from Gbe languages (Fon, Ewe, Adja, Phla, Gen, Maxi and Gun). The word hounnongan means chief ...

'', or a female priest called a ''

mambo Mambo most often refers to: * Mambo (music), a Cuban musical form *Mambo (dance), a dance corresponding to mambo music Mambo may also refer to: Music * Mambo section, a section in arrangements of some types of Afro-Caribbean music, particul ...

''. The term is believed to derive from the Fon ''houn for'' "abode of spirits." At the centre of the temple is the ''

potomitan The ''potomitan'' (also spelled ''poteau-mitan'', ''poto mitan'', ''poto-mitan'': Haitian Creole: "central pole" - from the French: , "post", and , an archaism for "half") is an essential structural feature of the ''hounfour'' (temple) in Haitian ...

'', a post used to contact spirits, and a highly decorated altar. There is a feast before the ceremony, and a particular pattern (a ''

veve A ''veve'' (also spelled ''vèvè'' or ''vevè'') is a religious symbol commonly used in different branches of Vodun throughout the African diaspora, such as Haitian Vodou and Louisiana Voodoo. The ''veve'' acts as a "beacon" for the ''loa'', a ...

'') relating to the ''

loa ( ), also called loa or loi, are spirits in the African diasporic religion of Haitian Vodou. They have also been incorporated into some revivalist forms of Louisiana Voodoo. Many of the lwa derive their identities in part from deities venerat ...

'' being worshiped is outlined on the temple floor. Accompanied by beats from rattles and religious drums called tamboulas, dancing and chanting begins. One of the dancers is said to be possessed by the ''loa'', entering a trance and behaving just as the ''loa'' would. An animal, normally a

chicken The chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') is a domesticated junglefowl species, with attributes of wild species such as the grey and the Ceylon junglefowl that are originally from Southeastern Asia. Rooster or cock is a term for an adult m ...

goat The goat or domestic goat (''Capra hircus'') is a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (''C. aegagrus'') of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the a ...

sheep Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus ''Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticated s ...

, or

pig The pig (''Sus domesticus''), often called swine, hog, or domestic pig when distinguishing from other members of the genus '' Sus'', is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is variously considered a subspecies of ''Sus s ...

, is sacrificed and its blood is collected. This is used to sate the hunger of the ''loa''.

References

Haitian Vodou {{religious-struct-stub