Voodoo practitioners in Haiti turn out in their numbers for annual Day of The Dead celebration

Haiti's annual Day of The Dead festivities take place on the first two days of November during All Saints and All Souls Day during which voodoo believers and devotees celebrate with candles, alcohol and food. Families come together to celebrate loved ones who have passed on to the great beyond with face-painting, storytelling and food offerings.

In Haiti, the celebrations centre around honoring the Haitian voodoo spirits of Baron Samdi and Gede. According to Haitian folklore, when a person dies, Baron Samedi digs up their grave greets their soul and leads them to the underworld. Haitians congregate at the Baron Samedi cross on the Day of The Dead where they dress up, smoke cigarettes and drink rum.

This post first appeared on Linda Ikeji's Blog. Read the original story here.