The folk religion of Haiti is Vodou. During the French colonization period slaves were brought from West Africa to Haiti in order to work on plantations. Although they were baptized as Roman Catholics the enslaved people continued to practice in secret their own religion. Ancient African and modern Catholic faiths melted together in the West Indies and as a result a new religion was born: Vodou. In the misery of slavery, suffering from oppression, Vodou practices gave the abused people courage and unified power.

Vodou ceremonies have physical and spiritual dimensions, but are often misunderstood in a negative way by foreigners. Complicated musical rhythms and dance bring the spirits to life through song, dance and drumming.

Vodou religion is unique to Haiti, although it can be found in comparable ways in Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil or even in the southern parts of the U.S.A. like Louisiana. Vodou played a critical role in Haiti's struggle for independence. Vodou meaning “spirit” is practiced by most Haitians today as a syncretism of Christianity and Vodou. Indeed, both faiths reveal common elements, such as focusing their ceremonies around a center point, whether an altar or a pillar (poto mitan), and by using symbols. The cross, for example, is a favorite Vodou symbol. Other elements of African origin have been maintained in their original form such as worship of the ancestors, sorcery or the incantation of twins. Virgin Mary is associated to the spirit of the goddess of love, Erzulie, the Vodou counterpart to the Holy Mother. After a legend, Virgin Mary appeared on the top of a palm tree in the mid-19th century, close to the waterfall named Sodo (French: Saut d'Eau). Ever since, this waterfall became a sacred Vodou pilgrimage site.

In a Vodou service the spirits “Loa” are called to take part in the service, receive offerings and grant requests.