Maman Brigitte

Maman Brigitte
Goddess of life, death, justice, motherhood, fertility, cemeteries, crosses, gravestones, women, souls of deceased relatives, obscenities, passion
Member of Ghede
Veve for Maman Brigitte
Other names	Grandma Brigitte, Manman, Maman Brijit, Grann (or Gran) Brigitte, Brigitte, Manman Brijit
Abode	Voodoo underworld
Mantra	Banda
Animals	Black rooster, horse
Symbol	Rum, hot peppers, fire, gravestones, crosses
Tree	Elm, weeping willow
Color	Purple, black, green
Gender	Female
Consort	Baron Samedi
Offspring	Ghede Nibo (adopted)
Equivalents
Christian equivalent	St. Brigid Mary Magdalene
Celtic equivalent	Brigid

Maman Brigitte (English: Mother Brigitte) also written Gran Brigitte, Grann Brigitte, Manman, Manman Brigit, and Maman Brijit, is a death loa and the wife of Baron Samedi in Vodou. She drinks rum infused with hot peppers and is symbolized by a black rooster. Like Samedi and the Ghede, she is foul-mouthed. She is also the adoptive mother of Ghede Nibo.

Brigitte is the only white Voodoo god, having her origins in Ireland, and not in Africa or Haiti like other loa. She is described having red-gold hair and emerald green eyes, and is associated with Brigid, the Celtic goddess of healing and life.

She protects gravestones in cemeteries if they are properly marked with a cross. Horses, weeping willows, fire, and elm trees are considered sacred to her.

A New World loa, Maman Brigitte is syncretized with various saints, including Saint Brigid and Mary Magdalene.

References

• Laennec Hurbon, Voodoo: Search for the Spirit, "Abrams Discoveries" series. Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (1995)
• Shannon R. Turlington, The Complete Idiot's Guide To Voodoo. Alpha Books. (2001)