Bonn Ane!

Sassy

Ask Estwenley (aka Swenley, aka Sassy) Blanchard what his most celebrated and favorite holiday is besides his birthday, and his answer will be…

“Haitian Independence day,” announces Sassy.

And there you have it! Haitian Independence Day, a day that falls on January 1. 

On Jan. 1, 1804, Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared the country’s freedom from France, ending a 13-yearlong Haitian Revolution. In doing so, Haiti became the first black republic in the world and the first country in the Western Hemisphere to abolish slavery.

“In Haiti, we start celebrating Independence Day on December 31 and then into January 1,” said Sassy, a native Haitian who has lived in the U.S. for the past three years for school. Sassy is the youngest of five (one of his brothers is Tide!) and has many family and friends still in the country. “We don’t celebrate Christmas as much. Parts of Haiti do, the rich parts, but we’ve never been exposed to the part of Christmas where we exchange gifts. We celebrate Christmas on the 24th by going to church to thank God and celebrate Christ being born. Independence Day is the holiday we all celebrate.”

So, what does Haitian Independence Day entail? Especially from Sassy’s perspective? And why is it important to recognize and learn about this special holiday full of tradition in Haiti?

We hear from Sassy:

What happens during the Haitian New Year?

Well, on the 31st, all the kids are free to go outside. They can stay outside free of danger and can stay out late – they have their independence. Despite how things are in my country today, people will still respect the rule of being safe – it’s our history.

Then on January 1st, we have soup joumou, also known as pumpkin soup.

Soup joumou?

Soup joumou is a dish in Haiti that everyone has together. People have different meanings of it, but overall, it represents our freedom and independence. It takes ingredients that everyone can grow and make.

On Independence Day, everyone sends around their soup as an exchange in the community you live in. I’ll have some soup at my house, but then will go to my aunt’s for her soup and will carry on.

Do you know how to make soup joumou?

Yes, I do know how to make it. I have it in my head so I can’t just tell you, but I know how to make it if I have everything [to make it]. Pumpkin is what everyone has, but you can add different things into it like meat and noodles. I like goat and beef in mine and eating it with plantains. 

What can someone expect out of Sassy on January 1?

Well, I partied and enjoyed being outside when I was in Haiti because it was safe. People in Haiti do all that too because they think and expect soup joumou to cure their hangover…

But I have never had soup joumou since I’ve moved to the U.S. It’s not by choice, it’s something I just haven’t done. It’s not the same as being back home.

Why is it important for others to learn about this special day and the traditions that go into it?

It’s hard to say specific reasons because culture is very broad, but it’s good to acknowledge culture.

For example, I have friends from Saudi Arabia. I try hard to respect their culture and put myself into it because I would want it done for mine. When I lived in Michigan [Sassy now lives in Wisconsin], I was with them for my English school during Ramadan. Out of respect for them, I would not eat in front of them. And then in turn, if there were times we were together and I was making a dish from my country, I would share it with them.

So, overall, it’s important to acknowledge and respect everyone’s culture and that’s what I try to do!

Bonn Ane to Sassy, his family and friends and all of those who celebrate Haitian Independence Day. And, to everyone as we begin 2022, Happy New Year!

Editor’s note: While researching and refreshing my memory on Haiti’s Independence Day, I came across a few articles that were very helpful in understanding the importance of their independence day. I encourage you to read from the experts (Sassy here already being one!) with these articles too – Why you should care about Haitian Independence Day, With a fortifying soup, Haitians share their pride in Independence and Haitian soup joumou awarded protected cultural heritage status by UNESCO.