This week is Kanaval, or Mardis Gras as it is known in the United States, and it is a fun and important holiday in Haiti. In fact, the entire country celebrates each weekend leading up to the week-long party. The staff at Apparent Project recognizes the importance of encouraging children to celebrate their history and culture. They also know that the students (and staff) often face great difficulties and much stress in their lives. So each year our staff makes a great effort to give the students a day to celebrate Kanaval before their week of school vacation starts.
The students use their imaginations to make and decorate paper masks. They dress up in traditional clothes or costumes and paint their faces. They set up a sound system and for one day teachers, staff, and students dress up and dance around the school yard to traditional Haitian beats until they are worn out. Even the babies are brought out and held up by their caregivers so they can bounce around on their tiny chubby feet. Music and dance are an important part of Haitian life from an early age. And we love that!
But how did Kanaval become so important in the Haitian culture and how do they celebrate it now?
For several hundred years in the colonial Caribbean, as Lent approached there would be celebrations among the rich and well to do. There would be masquerade balls and people would dress up to celebrate with their friends in sort of a last fling before entering the restrictions of Lent. Soon the slaves began to imitate their masters. They would dress up, play drums, and enjoy their own form of celebration. But the masters didn’t appreciate this and outlawed their celebrations. Only the ruling class was allowed to celebrate.
After the slaves gained their freedom in Haiti, they began a real celebration of their freedom and liberty to take to the streets whenever they chose. Each year, in the weekends leading up to Ash Wednesday, there are huge Carnival celebrations (called Kanaval). There is always a celebration in Port au Prince. Other cities around Haiti take turns hosting their own Kanaval parties as well. Through the years Kanaval has become a time to showcase Haitian culture, creativity, music, and resilience. This means lots of color and flamboyant costumes, lots of music, fried food, comic plays and of course dancing!
Musicians write new music just for the Kanaval, hoping to catch the attention of the crowds. Many musicians say that the money made during Kanaval keeps them afloat throughout the rest of the year. Much of the music speaks to the sufferings and hardships of the past year with lots of humor twisted throughout. In addition, the messages are now often faintly disguised messages to the leaders telling them that the people see their corruption and selfishness. The government and wealthy businessmen sponsor the many bands. In the evening, these bands ride on tall floats which are slowly pulled through the streets by big trucks. Each float has its own electric generator to power the huge sound systems. The beat of the exciting music will carry great distances as each band tries to outdo the others.
Tailors prepare lavish costumes that are themselves a window into Haitian culture and history. Months ahead of time artists begin their work of preparing paper mache masks and practicing complex dances and plays.
Food vendors prepare huge amounts of food to be sold to the parade goers – mouthwatering barbeques of chicken and goat, seasoned pork fried to perfection, and spicy cabbage relish called “pikliz.” The sweet scent of fried pastries called “beignets” will make your stomach rumble. All of the delicious food will be washed down with natural juices made from oranges, limes, and passion fruit, or with Prestige (the national beer).
All of this celebration draws the Haitian diaspora home like a magnet. This also brings an influx of money to local hotels, restaurants, and merchants.
Not everyone in Haiti participates in the public celebrations. As is true everywhere, when large crowds of giddy party-goers come together there also some negative things that happen in the crowds. For this reason, many churches in Haiti discourage their members from going downtown to join in the wild celebrations. They may hold special programs and fun activities at the churches instead.
This past week the Apparent Project Childcare & Schools were closed due to political insecurity. Some of the teachers were able to get to school. Parents were concerned about the unrest. So, for everyone’s safety, school was cancelled until February 16 as an early vacation. We are all so sad about this. But we know that the kids are begging to be back to Apparent Project as soon as possible. Many of them tell us that it is their favorite place to be!
We ask you to continue to pray for each of these dear students as well as pray for change in Haiti. And in the meantime, enjoy the picture from last year’s celebration.
Thank you for your support!
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