Cultural Practices of Honoring Ancestors
Join us virtually via Instagram @oakcliffculturalcenter, @itsjujubae, or @taylorcrumpton on October 1, 2025, at 12:00 noon CT/ 1:00 PM ET.
October is a significant time for many spiritual tradition, and Hoodoo Heritage Month, founded by Mama Rue and the Walking the Dikenga Collective in 2019, highlights the importance of honoring Hoodoo’s rich legacy. Hoodoo, a deeply rooted spiritual practice born from the resilience and magico-religious traditions of formerly enslaved African Americans, has often been misrepresented. This month-long observance resists these misrepresentations while celebrating the culture, wisdom, and power of ancestral practice.
In close proximity, October 31st marks All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween), a day associated with honoring the dead and spiritual transitions. Following this, early November brings a convergence of remembrance days, including:
All Saints’ Day (November 1st), observed by many Christian traditions to honor all saints.
All Souls’ Day (November 2nd), focusing on the souls of the departed).
Dia de los Muertos (Mexico, November 1st-2nd), a vibrant celebration of life and death where families remember their loved ones with altars, offerings, and communal rituals.
Fet Gede (Haiti), celebrated in early November, a Vodou festival where spirits of the dead (Gede) are honored through ceremonies, offerings, and celebrations.
These observances, despite cultural differences, share a reverence for ancestors and the spiritual world. Hoodoo Heritage Month, in particular, plays a key role in reclaiming the narrative around African American spiritual practices and their ancestral roots.
