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.)

"That's That Stuff I Don't Like" (Hair Bloggers Edition)

The lovely Tathiana, the blogger of My Pound Cake, came up with an idea to do a bloggers edition on stuff that we don't like.  Many of you may be familiar with several YouTube Tags on the same topic sharing their pet peeves.  This should be fun and tell me if you share any of my pet peeves! 

That's That Stuff I Don't Like....

1. I do not like the phrase "mixed hair".  Everyone has mixed hair because of the several hair types we have on our head.  What is mixed hair?  I thought we all, as a human race have straight, curly, kinky or tightly coiled hair.  Maybe, SOME people who are biracial tend to fall in a category with a certain hair type, but to me, it would not be "mixed" hair.  Then I'm mixed since I have 4 gazillion hair types on my head.

2. I do not like when a product worked on my hair and it made it look amazing!  Then next time, it makes my hair look like crap, even if I used it the same exact way.

3. I do not like to spend a lot of money on hair products. I am one of those who will pick up the product, check out the price, look at it and start thinking of all my uses of the products.  I go through a mental list of 100 reasons why I need it and a list of 5 reasons why I do not.  I put it back down on the shelf, walk away. Then I charge down the aisle to find myself picking it up again, to get to the register and tell the cashier that I will not buy it while he/she is ringing up my purchases.

4. I do not like when I get questioned by cashiers for the hair products I purchase, such as VO5 and/or Herbal Essence's products.  "I thought that was only for white people..." Yes it does work for many of us too!

5. I do not like negative comments from people I know who thinks documenting my "hair journey" is silly and pathetic.  But then come to me later for hair advice.  I'll let you guess if I actually help them.

6. I do not like after I do my daughter's hair, she complains about the way just ONE twist falls over her head. 

7. I do not like when I get comments that my hair is long because my mom has long hair and therefore my daughter will also have long hair.  Hair length is not hereditary. There are many who never had long hair in their families, but acquired long hair because of their healthy hair journies.

8. I do not like when I have no clue what to do with my hair, especially if I am going out with friends or my husband. I want to look hot!

9. I do not like RANDOM people touching my hair, I do not know you, so kick rocks and bounce.  Do not just ram your fingers into my scalp without even having the audacity to ask.  Last time someone did that, her hand was smacked hard...and it happened in church too ;-)!  Don't bother to touch my childrens' hairs too...we are going to fight!

10. I do not like when I am told that I do not look Haitian because my hair is long...and that Haitian people have short, brillo pad looking hair.  Stop watching TV all the time and believe everything you see.  Black people all over the earth come in all colors of the spectrum along with different types of hair.  Everyone is beautiful!

That's That Stuff I Don't Like...

I originally started tagging bloggers, but consider all of you tagged, especially if you are a hair blogger!

What's the stuff that you don't like?