Happy New Year & Happy Haitian Independence Day!

Photo: Heading out for midnight church service in Tampa, FL

First, I want to thank God for his countless blessings and for accepting my glories and praises.
I want to wish you all a wonderful Happy New Year and that it is a blessed and prosperous one.

 
Today, January 1st, also marks the 209th Anniversary of Haiti's Independence.  Our ancestors fought a war with sweat, blood and tears to free themselves of their status as being just slaves.  In the year 1804, they won the war and finally became free.  Although Haiti was the first black nation to win their independence, the country still has so much to over come.  Then, let's not forget the earthquake that happened on January 12, 2010 that even set the country back even further.  The country still needs our prayers and support...

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To celebrate this anniversary, we consume a soup made with squash called, "Soup Joumou" which also became part of the Haitian tradition and culture.  Some people thought it was simply Haitian tradition to celebrate good health or just to simply celebrate the New Year, the Haitian way.  But this is the main reason as to why we enjoy the soup that so many of us get dressed on January 1st each year to house hop to our fellow Haitians' homes:

Soup Joumou was a meal that was forbidden to slaves by the French masters.  As a tribute to the well deserved freedom, the newly freed Haitian slaves consumed the soup.

I thought this was important to share, because certain "meanings" of events, things or traditions get lost after many years and people take it just for face value.

No matter where you are from, just know and understand your culture(s) and why are their certain traditions that still hold value.  Understand and know where you are from. What are the meanings behind certain traditions within your family and/or culture?  How does it play a role in the things that you do today?

Thank you so much for reading!  And again, may God continue to bless you in so many ways where it is needed and right on time.

God bless!

-Sdestra

(P.S. Sorry that this post was late, I thought I published it...but obviously, it never went through.)