Jump to content

Clermeil

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In Haitian Vodou, Clermeil is a lwa who makes rivers flood their banks. He is usually depicted as a white male. Clermeil is believed to be the father of all light-colored children.[1] He is sometimes considered among the most powerful of lwa.[2]

According to legend, Clermeil was a cruel French colonial. When his slaves tried to kill him he prayed to the devil, and promised his soul if the devil would save him.[1] One story tells of how he abducted a woman and carried her away to his home underwater.[3]


References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Simpson, George Eaton (Oct–Dec 1942). "Loup Garou and Loa Tales from Northern Haiti". Journal of American Folklore. 55 (218): 219–227. doi:10.2307/535864. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  2. ^ Simpson, George Eaton (1980). "4.4 Ideas about Ultimate Reality and Meaning in Haitian Vodun". Ultimate Reality and Meaning. 3 (3): 189. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  3. ^ Courlander, Harold (July 1944). "Gods of the Haitian Mountains". Journal of Negro History. 29 (3): 339. Retrieved 24 August 2024.