Haiti does a lot to honor its vibrant past. Despite the turbulent times we endure, we remain proud of our rich culture and history. Traditions that honor our ancestors have been held dear through natural disasters, political instability, and many more hardships. Amid the chaos, we draw strength from our past.

When asked how my community or culture honors the past, the first tradition that I thought of was having a bowl of “soup joumou,” or pumpkin soup, on January first, which is also our Independence Day. It is a hearty soup with a vibrant orange color, often made with beef and root vegetables. This tradition holds so much significance in the Haitian community and truly embodies the Haitian spirit of resilience. Haiti was a French colony from 1697 to 1804. In 1804 Haiti fought for and won its independence from France. This was a huge accomplishment because it made us the first Black republic in the Americas, and we honor that every year through this soulful meal.

Now you may ask, “Why pumpkin soup?” When Haiti was a French colony the enslaved people’s diets consisted of leftover foods that the French deemed unfit to eat. It was a dehumanizing tactic to remind them that they were seen as property that would be provided with the bare minimum they needed to survive. Things like pumpkin soup were seen as a delicacy too good for an enslaved person to enjoy. When the slaves rose up againt the colonizers and declared their independance on January 1, 1804, one of the first ways Haitians celebrated their freedom was by starting the tradition of having pumpkin soup.

“Soup joumou” has been nicknamed freedom soup, as it symbolizes breaking free of the shackles of slavery and embracing freedom. We continue to honor our vivacious history every year through eating “soup joumou,” celebrating how our unity created strength.