Saut-d'Eau

Saut-d'Eau (French pronunciation: [so do]; Haitian Creole: Sodo) is a commune in the Mirebalais Arrondissement, in the Centre department of Haiti.

In the 19th century, it is believed that the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (or the closely associated Erzulie Dantor, a Vodou loa) appeared on a palm tree there.

[2]: 10–11  In numerous oral accounts collected by Laguerre from local people, the young man went away in fear but returned shortly accompanied by a police officer.

Various Haitian governments’ blessing of Saut D’Eau as the national pilgrimage center and the faith of the Saudolese and the pilgrims have forced, to some extent, the Catholic clergy to accept the situation as a fact of life.

[3]: 204  A Eucharistic rite is held during the festival, as well as various vodou rituals, but the penultimate devotional activity is bathing in the waters of the falls, and asking favors of the Virgin or Erzulie.