What Are Veves? Voodoo Symbols & Meanings, Explained

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Horror expert Sydney Bermudez discusses sacred symbols used in Haitian Vodou

Co-authored by Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: March 23, 2026 Fact Checked

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In Haitian Voodoo (Vodou), the lwa, or spirits, act as intermediaries between humans and the Supreme Deity Bondye. Each lwa has its own symbol, called a veve. These veves are often drawn in coffee or flour during Vodou rituals and are meant to be a way to call on the lwa. We partnered with a horror expert to help us discuss some of the most influential and well-known veves in Vodou, plus other symbols that are important in Vodou culture. Let’s get started!

Symbols of the Lwa in Voodoo

Horror expert Sydney Bermudez says that in Haitian Voodoo (Vodou), veves are unique symbols used to represent different spirits during rituals. These veves typically incorporate elements of the lwa’s nature, like a crossroads for Papa Legba, a serpent for Damballah Wedo, and a heart with a dagger for Erzulie Dantor.

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Section 1 of 2:

17 Voodoo Veve Symbols & Their Meanings

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   Papa Legba: The Gatekeeper Bermudez explains that Papa Legba’s veve represents the gatekeeper between humans and spirits called lwa (or loa). Practitioners of Vodou must call on Papa Legba to ask permission to interact with other lwa, so his veve is typically used in all Vodou rituals. Papa Legba is usually depicted as an old man, smoking a pipe and using a cane or crutch, and he’s sometimes said to be a trickster.

   • Symbol: Papa Legba’s veve resembles a crossroads. He’s also associated with gates, locks, keys, and dogs.
   • Other names: Elegua, Exu
   • Offerings: Coffee, plantains, candles, dirt from a crossroads
   • Colors: Black, red
   • Day: Monday, Tuesday
   • Catholic association: St. Peter (guards the gates of Heaven), St. Lazarus, St. Anthony
   • Chant: Papa Legba, Open the gate for me / Atibon Legba, Open the gate for me / Open the gate for me / Papa that I may pass / When I return I will thank the Lwa.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Sydney Bermudez is a horror and urban legends expert that explores paranormal cases, internet mysteries, and psychological horror. She shares content on TikTok and Instagram to over 400k followers.
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   Damballah Wedo: The Serpent God Damballah Wedo is a giant white serpent and the ancient king of all of the lwa. He is renowned for his wisdom and peace, although he generally does not speak. In some traditions, he’s believed to be the Creator of all things; in others, he’s the first thing created by the Supreme Deity Bondye.

   • Symbol: Damballah Wedo’s veve typically contains two interconnected serpents.
   • Other names: Dambala, Danbala
   • Offerings: Hen, rooster, eggs, melons, bananas, grapes, cornmeal
   • Colors: White
   • Day: Thursday
   • Catholic association: St. Patrick, Moses
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   Ayizan: Mother of Vodou Ayizan is said to be the first priestess of Vodou. When new priests and priestesses are initiated, their eyes are covered with a shredded palm that symbolizes Ayizan. She’s often called upon for protection, healing, or to honor one’s ancestors. She’s highly revered, and if a practitioner is calling upon a number of spirits, they typically honor her among the first.

   • Symbol: Ayizan’s diamond-shaped veve symbolizes palm fronds.
   • Other names: Mambo Ayizan, Aïzan, Grande Ai-Zan, Ayizan Velekete
   • Offerings: White flowers, spring water, bananas, hearts of palm, dirt from the crossroads at an outdoor market, palm fronds in the shape of a cross or X
   • Colors: White, yellow, gold, silver
   • Catholic association: St. Clare
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   Baron Samedi: Father of the Dead In Vodou, Baron Samedi is said to rule over the kingdom of the dead, and he decides who lives or dies. According to Bermudez, his veve is also tied to death. He’s married to Grann Brigitte and is the father of the Ghede family. He’s a trickster who’s often depicted wearing dark glasses, a tophat, and a tailcoat. He also carries a black cane with a skull on top. People sometimes call on him for healing or to communicate with the dead.

   • Symbol: Baron Samedi’s veve looks like a coffin on top of a cross.
   • Other names: Bawon Samdi, Ghede
   • Offerings: Hot peppers, rum, cigarettes
   • Colors: Black, purple, white, red
   • Day: Saturday
   • Catholic association: St. Gerard Majella
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   Erzulie Dantor: Goddess of Motherhood In Haitian Vodou, Erzulie Dantor is the lwa responsible for protecting mothers, children, and the abused. Bermudez says Erzulie's veve is associated with love. She’s sometimes called the Black Madonna of Vodou, and she’s thought to be the mother of Haiti and protector of Haitian independence.

   • Symbol: Erzulie Dantor’s veve is a heart with a dagger through it.
   • Other names: Ezili Dantor
   • Offerings: Red wine, mangos, oranges, pineapples, daggers
   • Colors: Blue and red, can be green and gold
   • Day: Tuesday
   • Catholic association: Madonna
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   Agwe: Ruler of the Sea Agwe is the lwa of the sea. He sails the waters in his ship Imamou, and Vodou temples often have a boat hanging from the ceiling as a way of honoring him. It’s believed that the dead spend a year with him under the sea before moving to the spirit world. Practitioners often blow into a conch shell to call upon him—for instance, to ask him to protect sailors or for shelter from a storm.

   • Symbol: Agwe’s veve typically takes the form of his ship.
   • Other names: Agwe Towoyo, Agwe Vodoun Miwa
   • Offerings: Conch shells, oars, coffee, rice boiled in milk, melons, champagne
   • Colors: White and blue, sometimes gold or sea-green
   • Day: Thursday, Saturday
   • Catholic association: St. Ulrich, St. Raphael Arkanj
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   Grann Brigitte: Protector of the Dead Grann Brigitte is the Vodou lwa of death and cemeteries. She’s the only lwa who’s usually depicted as having white skin and red hair, possibly because she’s associated with the Celtic goddess (and/or Irish saint) Brigid. She’s married to Baron Samedi, and she’s often called upon to protect women and children.

   • Symbol: Grann Brigitte’s veve includes a heart, and sometimes features a cross with a black rooster.
   • Other names: Maman Brigitte, Gran Brijit
   • Offerings: Rum, candles, black roosters, skulls, sweet mirrors, stale bread, cigarettes
   • Colors: Black, purple
   • Day: Monday, Wednesday, or Friday
   • Catholic association: St. Brigid, Mary Magdalene
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   Ogoun: The Warrior Ogoun was once the lwa of blacksmiths, but over time, he became known as a mighty warrior. He’s also the god of lightning and storms. Ogoun often takes different forms, including Ogoun Kobu Kobu, a relentless foreman, and Ogun Shibiriki, an assassin who crafts his weapons by hand. Ogoun is often called upon for protection or to bring about political change.

   • Symbol: Ogoun’s veve typically resembles a wrought-iron gate, symbolizing his work as a blacksmith.
   • Other names: Ogun, Ogum, Ogou
   • Offerings: Rum, gin, plantains, bananas, smoked fish, grapes, watermelon
   • Colors: Green, black
   • Day: Tuesday
   • Catholic association: St. Peter
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   Bossou: The Bull In Haitian Vodou, Bossou is a family of lwa that takes the form of horned bulls. Bossou are fiercely protective of their followers, and people often call on them to assist in fertility or to help heal very serious illnesses. However, they can also be very violent and are often called on for vengeance.

   • Symbol: Bossou’s veve resembles a bull’s head atop interlocking diamond shapes and curls.
   • Other names: Bosou, Bossour Ashadeh
   • Offerings: Rum, whisky, red peppers, roasted pig, red candles in the shape of a phallus (for fertility)
   • Colors: Red and black
   • Day: Tuesday
   • Catholic association: St. Vincent de Paul
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    Agassou: The Leopard King According to a Dahomey myth, Princess Aligbonu had a son with Kpo, a leopard spirit—Agassou. In Haitian Vodou, Agassou is considered the lwa who rules over home and ancestry, and he’s often invoked for love. Crabs are sacred to him, and his followers may abstain from eating them.

    • Symbol: Agassou’s veve usually features a triangle and spirals with cat eyes and a snake.
    • Other names: Agasu, Agasou, Roi d’Agasou
    • Offerings: Rum, tobacco, roasted meats
    • Colors: White, brown, gold, leopard print
    • Day: Thursday
    • Catholic association: St. Anthony
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    Erzulie Freda: Goddess of Love Erzulie Freda is the flirtatious sister of Erzulie Dantor. She’s the embodiment of femininity and is well-known for her love of material wealth, including jewelry and fine clothing. She’s also associated with a number of male lwa, including Papa Legba, Damballah Wedo, and Agwe.

    • Symbol: Erzulie Freda’s veve is a heart shape surrounded by spirals.
    • Other names: Lady Erzulie, Freda Dahomey, Ezili Freda,
    • Offerings: Jewelry, pink silk
    • Colors: Pink, light blue
    • Day: Thursday
    • Catholic association: Madonna
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    Gran Bwa: The Great Tree Gran Bwa means “big tree,” which is fitting, since this lwa is the ruler of plants and botanical knowledge. It’s said that Gran Bwa lives deep in the forest. People often call on him when they want to learn more about herbal remedies, and he must be summoned when someone is being initiated as a Vodou priest.

    • Symbol: Gran Bwa’s symbol resembles a large tree, with branches for arms.
    • Other names: Grand Bois
    • Offerings: Fruit, leaves, berries, roots
    • Colors: Green, red
    • Day: Tuesday
    • Catholic association: St. Sebastian
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    Kouzen Zaka: Spirit of the Land Kouzen Zaka is the lwa that rules over agriculture. He’s often addressed as “cousin” and wears simple, country clothing. He’s playful and young, if somewhat rude and coarse. He distrusts busy cities, preferring to roam barefoot in the countryside with his straw hat and pipe. He’s often called on for the protection of crops.

    • Symbol: Kouzen Zaka’s veve symbolizes a straw bag and sometimes incorporates farming tools like a sickle or machete.
    • Other names: Azaka Medeh
    • Offerings: Rum, maize, avocado, cassava melons, bread soaked in oil
    • Colors: Blue, green, white
    • Month: May
    • Catholic association: St. Isadore
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    Marasa: The Twins The Marasa are ancient twin lwas. They are thought to have died in early childhood, so they will remain young and innocent for all eternity. They represent balance, and they’re known for being very hungry, so they need to be well fed if they appear at a ritual.

    • Symbol: The Marasa’s veve is typically three-fold, representing the whole and each half.
    • Other names: Marassa Jumeaux
    • Offerings: Candies, chocolates, popcorn, chips
    • Colors: Light blue and light pink or light green and light yellow, depending on tradition
    • Day: Thursday
    • Catholic association: St. Cosmas & St. Damian
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    Yemaya: Goddess of the Moon Yemaya originated as the Yoruba Goddess of the Ocean. In Haitian Vodou, she’s the moon goddess and a protector of women and children. She’s also maintained her connection with the ocean, often being associated with mermaids.

    • Symbol: Yemaya’s veve is an upside-down triangle with a diamond and spiral shapes on top.
    • Other names: Yemanja, Yemalla, Iamanje
    • Offerings: Pearls, conch shells, white flowers, watermelon
    • Colors: Blue and white
    • Day: Saturday
    • Catholic association: Our Lady of Regla
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    Papa Loko: Spirit of Trees Papa Loko is the lwa of vegetation and trees. He’s associated with the healing nature of plants, and Vodoun doctors often make an offering to him before treating a patient. He’s sometimes depicted in the form of a butterfly.

    • Symbol: Papa Loko’s veve has a triangle at the base, with a staff wrapped in a snake emerging from the top.
    • Other names: Loko, Loco, Papa Loco
    • Offerings: Black or white goats, red oxen
    • Colors: Red and white
    • Day: Wednesday
    • Catholic association: St. Joseph
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    Milokan: Combined Lwa Milokan is not one specific lwa. Instead, it’s a combination of many lwa, ancient energies, and departed ancestors. It’s the energetic force that holds the spirit world together, and it’s often summoned to honor the lwa or those who have passed before us.

    • Symbol: The Milokan veve combines many of the veves from other lwa within a sacred circle.
    • Other names: Minokan
    • Offerings: Food, drinks, candles, offerings specific to other lwa
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Section 2 of 2:

Other Symbols in Voodoo

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1. 
   These objects are also important in Vodou rituals. In addition to veves and offerings, a number of other objects can be incorporated into a Vodou practice. Here are some of the most commonly used:

   • Drapo: Flags representing lwa, often flown at Vodou temples.
   • Poto-mitan: A pillar decorated with two snakes that represents the link between the spirit and human worlds.
   • Drums: Sacred instruments used to play songs associated with the lwa.
   • Voodoo doll (bocio): Effigies known as a bocio are used in healing rituals—not for revenge, as is commonly seen in pop culture.

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