Free Republic

June 24 is St. John's Day, named for St. John the Baptist, cousin of Jesus. It's also the holiest day of year for voodoo practitioners. Voodoo has long been accepted as part of New Orleans' culture, while in the rest of the country it remains misunderstood and often disparaged. St. John's Day, which falls every year around the summer solstice, is a celebration of growing and moving forward. Practitioners and curiosity-seekers alike gather and participate in various ceremonies. This year, the observance of St. John's Day is more important than ever. "This is a time when people can heal or...