This year, Easter fell on March 31, 2024. In the United States, Easter is joyously celebrated with family and friends, commemorating the resurrection of Christ following his crucifixion. In this newsletter, we aim to delve into the typical Easter celebrations in Haiti.
Easter, also known as Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is both a Christian festival and cultural holiday honoring Jesus’s resurrection from the dead, following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary in 30 AD. In Haiti, this holiday can blend Christian and Voodoo traditions, creating a unique and vibrant celebration.
Easter in Haiti is marked by grand festivities, appropriate attire, and delicious meals. Given the strong Christian presence in the Caribbean, many Haitians honor the risen Savior. The celebration begins on Good Friday, when Jesus was crucified. Women traditionally dress in white and black attire, symbolizing the solemnity of the cross and Jesus’s burial while children enjoy flying their kites. Additionally, dietary restrictions are observed, with fish, eggs, and vegetables such as beets and salad of watercress being consumed on Friday and Saturday, while meat is absolutely prohibited.
Furthermore, there exist superstitions surrounding swimming on Good Friday and Saturday. It is believed that venturing into the water during this time may bring bad luck or even transform individuals into fish.
On Easter Sunday, a celebratory feast featuring dishes like meat, red snapper, rice with white bean sauce, plantains and other root vegetables are consumed. Sunday masses on Easter Sunday are elaborate events, attended by devout believers while some practitioners of Voodoo may incorporate Rara music into their celebrations.
Unfortunately, due to the current situation in Haiti, Haitians are unable to partake in these vibrant celebrations this year. Nevertheless, they eagerly await the return to normalcy, yearning for the day when all residents of the island can revel in the joyous festivities once more.
Written By Catherine Corrado – Undergraduate Graphic Design Student Fairleigh Dickinson University. Edited by Marie Thadal
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