What American Horror Story: Coven Gets Wrong About Voodoo

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https://www.looper.com/808976/what-a...-about-voodoo/

The way Papa Legba is depicted isn't accurate

The Haitian religion of voodoo has long been romanticized on television shows and movies. The facts are often distorted in favor of what some consider to be good storytelling. "American Horror Story" is notorious for blending fact with fiction in each season, and that's exactly what the writers did when they added the character of Papa Legba (Lance Reddick).

Papa Legba is a loa, which, according to Learn Religions, "are spirits who serve as intermediaries between man and Bondye, the supreme Voodoo god." Papa Legba is a well-known figure, typically described as a bit of a trickster. An old man with tattered clothing, a hat, and a cane. He is represented by the colors red and black and often keeps dogs at his side as they are sacred to him.

Papa Legba is believed to be a bridge of communication between the living and the dead. He carries the ability to assist those in need when they find themselves at a crossroads or impasse in their life. However, in order for Papa Legba to grant this assistance to those who ask for it, he must be provided with an offering.