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We can say that the movies and the entertainment industry have really created an absurd misconception about voodoo dolls. Usually associated with Haitian voodoo rituals, most horror movies and crime TV series depicts these dolls as an evil tool for dispersing a curse. The truth is voodoo dolls did not even originate in Africa nor were these used for evil curses and black magic.
Using these dolls for revenge never really came from Voodoo although the Haitian practice of plastering dolls to trees in graveyards may be the source of this misconception. The purpose of this ritual was to actually use the doll as a medium for communicating with the departed loved ones and not to invoke a curse upon someone. Needles and pins are the voodoo dolls nifty accessories yet they were never really meant to hurt someone at all.
It is said that the spiritual beliefs of Louisiana Voodoo had been intermixed with the West African or Haitian Voodoo wherein pins were used to reinvent a spell. The practice was observed in southeastern part of America back in the time when slaves were brought from West Africa. As with any other pagan religions and beliefs in other cultures, deities and religious figures were used to get in touch with the spirits around them. This is the same purpose that has been practiced in voodoo. Even the sacrifice of animals is used even with the Christian religion as documented in the bible.
Another documented fact about voodoo dolls is that these are primarily used for good fortune and protection from harm. For those who are in the know, these are thought to bring fortune, good health, success, wealth, and abundance. Even the Chinese have their own figurines wherein one depicted a frog with a coin in its mouth. Nowadays, voodoo dolls have been a popular souvenir and gag items which have evolved from the dark and ugly features to the colorful and funny ones.
The notion of these dolls had changed through the years and is really different compared to how it was from early 20th century. An Osama Bin Laden voodoo doll had even proliferated for some time now while there are also other versions reminiscent of famous political figures. Some cartoon characters on television and some websites are even designed to resemble voodoo dolls. Some wacky individuals also find these voodoo dolls to be an interesting collection and several entrepreneurial minds make tiny versions of these dolls into key chains and stuffed miniature collectible toys.
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