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December 24 and 31: Two Important Dates for Children During Christmas in Haiti
December 24 and 31: Two Important Dates for Children During Christmas in Haiti
December 24 and 31: Two Important Dates for Children During Christmas in Haiti

December 24 and 31: Two Important Dates for Children During Christmas in Haiti

In Haiti, Christmas is a magical time for children, where traditions and festivities blend to create unforgettable memories. Two dates, in particular, mark this season: December 24, Christmas Eve, and December 31, which heralds the New Year. These moments are rich in activities and emotions, putting the youngest at the heart of the celebrations. This article explores why these two days are so special for children in Haiti.

Haïti
Haïti
Haïti

December 24: The Magic of Christmas Eve

December 24 is a day of excitement for Haitian children. From the morning, the atmosphere is filled with excitement. Families prepare for Christmas Eve, and youngsters actively participate in the preparations, whether by helping to decorate the house or getting involved in the kitchen.

A popular tradition is to decorate a Christmas tree. Although artificial trees are common, some families improvise with local branches, decorated with garlands, lights, and small homemade objects. Children love to contribute to this activity, which symbolizes the beginning of the festivities.

The evening is marked by family gatherings. Children, dressed in their finest clothes, often attend midnight mass with their parents. This religious ceremony, filled with Christmas carols in Creole and biblical stories, is a solemn moment when families come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

After mass, families return home to share a festive meal. Although children are often tired, they stay awake to taste traditional dishes and hope to receive their gifts. These, although modest, are often toys, clothes or sweets, bringing immense joy to the youngest.

December 31: A Vigil of Hope for Children

December 31, the last night of the year, is another key date for Haitian children. Unlike December 24, this day is focused on hope and the celebration of what is to come.

Preparations for New Year’s Eve begin early in the day. Children often help clean the house, as it is important to start the new year in a clean and orderly environment. This task, although sometimes seen as a chore, is also an opportunity for families to work together and transmit values ​​of order and discipline.

In the evening, the festivities begin with a large family dinner. Children particularly enjoy this evening, as it is synonymous with laughter, songs and sometimes games. At midnight, families gather to exchange greetings and wish each other a happy new year. Children participate in this moment of collective joy, often with fireworks or firecrackers, which light up the sky and add a festive touch.

In some regions, it is also common for children to receive New Year’s gifts from their loved ones, in the form of small sums of money or symbolic gifts. These gestures reinforce the spirit of generosity and sharing specific to this period.

A Period Rich in Learning and Values ​​

December 24 and 31 are not only festive dates for Haitian children; they are also moments of learning. Through traditions, prayers and family reunions, children discover the values ​​of sharing, gratitude and solidarity.

These days also allow them to better understand the importance of family and religious rituals, while creating precious memories that will accompany them throughout their lives. Whether decorating a tree, attending mass, or watching the fireworks, each moment is filled with magic and meaning.

Haïti
Haïti
Haïti

A Unique Season for All Children

In Haiti, Christmas and New Year are times when children experience moments of pure happiness. Between the magic of December 24 and the excitement of December 31, they discover the spirit of the holidays through traditions that strengthen family ties and give them an optimistic vision of the future.

These two important dates remind us that Christmas in Haïti is much more than just a holiday: it is a celebration of love, faith, and hope, experienced through the eyes of children who are filled with wonder.

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About the Author
Appolon Guy Alain
Appolon Guy Alain
Appolon Guy Alain

Full Stack Developer, Créatif, expérimenté, passionné des nouvelles technologies et de l’art.

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Haiti: Carnival and Rara: Crossed Perspectives on Culture and Haitian Identity

In our tradition, carnival represents an essential cultural activity. Indeed, for the holding of it this year, the State had drawn from the public treasury not only a huge sum but also a strong concentration of law enforcement to ensure the protection and security of carnival-goers in the area. metropolitan. Despite numerous criticisms and concerns expressed by certain media on the one hand, then on the other hand by the democratic opposition. While it is true that in Port au Prince these concerns had had a no less valuable consequence on the progress of this festivity. It is no less true that this was the case in other provincial towns, as proof in the southeast department the authorities did not record anything as an element of accident or incident during the progress of the carnival unlike Port au Prince. Certainly, socio/economic problems are increasingly worrying, nevertheless what makes us what we are today, a free and independent people is none other than our exceptionality. This deeply expresses our intrinsic characteristic in relation to people. In fact, historically we are a people who laugh and cry, smile and irritate, dance and hit the system, sing and fight so well that "grenadya alaso sa ki mouri zafè ya yo" is the most emblematic song of the slaves for the conquest of our freedom. We do not intend to claim that those who expressed their disagreement with the carnival are showing a historical deficit. However, we leave in the shadows a fundamental question: why is carnival taken care of by the State while the rara is like an abandoned child? The rara is not only a simple cultural tradition but, above all, it is the heritage of our valiant warriors who bravely fought the French expeditionary army, the most powerful of the time. While, this mass cultural, she is still marginalized by state authorities. It is emphasized that social cohesion is the dead point of carnival. On the other hand, this is the strong point of rara. As proof, the Thursday of the Dead in our Voudouesque tradition which represents the opening ceremony for the rara bands is the blatant testimony of this social cohesion. And, in fact, there were circles of people who took divergent directions to attend the opening ceremony of their rara bands. For this opening ceremony the atmosphere was a taste of carnival in terms of color. On the side of Croix Hilaire, for the title champion Ratyèfè full force band, the color of his club was very diverse, a long dress of apricot yellow, mauve white, then white scarf. In terms of performance, this band had completely proven its champion skills thanks to its arsenal of musicians who were not in their testing phase. To tell the truth, they performed their note with surgical precision as a doctor-surgeon in his surgical procedure. The synchronization between the musicians, the instruments and then the fans form a whole and harmonize perfectly well. This band not only has the magic of words and verbs, it seems that they also have the magic to thrill even the most reluctant fans. Moreover, his performance for this dead Thursday was a challenge for his rivals this weekend to the extent that their performances were less good. On the symbol side of light, Grap Kenèp was the wonder of the Thursday evening of the dead. His club dressed in the appropriate color for this evening, purple scarf, purple jersey, then white “kolan”. In a symbolic way, this marriage of color represents Baron in Haitian Vodou. Without a doubt, it was the most beautiful symbolic representation of the evening. In terms of performance, returning from the cemetery we felt a very strong warmth of jubilation, elation, and playfulness for a completely balanced performance. As far as Chenn Tamarin is concerned, it was already 2 a.m. when our team met him, it was a less good performance than what we were accustomed to. On the symbolic side it leaves something to be desired. His news was that he had his own media. Petit-Goave/Culture and Society

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History

History

First black nation to free itself from slavery and gain independence from France in 1804 and influenced other liberation movements around the world, inspiring struggles for freedom and equality.

Natural beauty

Natural beauty

Haïti is blessed with spectacular natural landscapes, including white sand beaches, mountains and rich biodiversity.

Heritage

Heritage

Haïti has a rich historical heritage, including sites like the Citadelle Laferrière and the Sans-Souci Palace, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Culture

Culture

Haïti has a rich and diverse culture, influenced by African, European and indigenous elements. Haitian music, dance, art and cuisine are celebrated around the world.

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