Ancestors' Day is called Jour des Aieux (pronouced jur-deh-zayeh) in Haiti.
It's a day of remembrance of the heroes who served and died for freedom.
In Haiti, there's usually a presidential speech and a service commemorating our courageous ancestors.
The celebration of the 2nd of January seems more like a continuation of the festivities of the previous day (January 1st, Independence Day). Lots of roasted chickens, turkeys, cow meat, or goats will grace our tropical tables on that day. Some people would cap their evening by attending a bal and others would end up on an outdoor terrace at a small table drinking rums and tafia with friends while playing dominoes.
It's a day of remembrance of the heroes who served and died for freedom.
In Haiti, there's usually a presidential speech and a service commemorating our courageous ancestors.
The celebration of the 2nd of January seems more like a continuation of the festivities of the previous day (January 1st, Independence Day). Lots of roasted chickens, turkeys, cow meat, or goats will grace our tropical tables on that day. Some people would cap their evening by attending a bal and others would end up on an outdoor terrace at a small table drinking rums and tafia with friends while playing dominoes.
Thank you for the history lesson.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to mention. Isn't soup a part the Independence Day calibration and why soup?
I harder one theory the Haitian were not allow to have soup, because it was consider high class; so when Haitian got their Independence Day they celebrate with soup. Is there some truth to this?
Soup Joumou (squash or pumpkin soup) is a traditional part of the January 1st (Independence Day) celebration.
ReplyDeleteJour des Aieux (Ancestors' Day) is celebrated on January 2nd.
The legend says that the soup joumou was one of the delicacies once enjoyed by the slaves' French masters. So to celebrate the country's freedom the victorious rebels shared one big pot of soup joumou at the final reading of the declaration of their independence on January 1st, 1804. It's been tradition ever since. There are slightly different versions of that story going around.
This help me to understand a lot more about Haiti.
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to add as a Jamaican I am very grateful for what the Haitians have done by freeing themselves from slavery and that led the way for the other Caribbean nation to gain the courage to free themselves.
Mwen remesye ou. Mesi Anpil. Mwen renmen w
Dakò. Pa gen pwoblèm.
ReplyDeleteAnpil lanmou pou ou tou :)