National Soup Joumou Day

What is National Soup Joumou Day?

National Soup Joumou Day, celebrated annually on January 1st in Haiti and among Haitian communities around the world, honors the historic and cultural significance of Soup Joumou—a traditional squash-based soup that symbolizes freedom and resilience. The day is more than a culinary celebration; it’s a tribute to Haiti’s independence from France in 1804 and the triumph of formerly enslaved people over colonial oppression. In 2021, UNESCO recognized Soup Joumou as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, underscoring its deep importance to Haitian identity and heritage.

The history behind the National Soup Joumou Day celebration

During Haiti’s time as a French colony known as Saint-Domingue, enslaved Africans were forbidden from eating Soup Joumou, which was considered a luxury dish reserved for French colonizers and plantation owners. The soup—made with calabaza squash (joumou), vegetables, beef, pasta, and aromatic spices—was a symbol of elitism and oppression.

When Haiti declared independence on January 1, 1804, following the success of the Haitian Revolution, the new citizens reclaimed Soup Joumou as a symbol of liberation. That same day, Haitians began preparing and eating the soup freely, turning it into a proud culinary tradition that marked their freedom and humanity.

Each year since, Soup Joumou has been served on Haiti’s Independence Day, with families gathering to cook and share the dish in remembrance of the revolution and in celebration of hard-won liberty.

In 2021, this tradition gained international recognition when UNESCO added Soup Joumou to its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, noting that the dish represents “the dignity, freedom, and resilience of the Haitian people.”

How is National Soup Joumou Day Celebrated?

National Soup Joumou Day is celebrated in homes, communities, and Haitian cultural spaces with joy, pride, and reverence for history. Though it coincides with Haiti’s Independence Day, the focus of this celebration is the sharing and honoring of the soup itself.

Common traditions include:

• Family gatherings: Early in the morning on January 1st, families come together to prepare large pots of Soup Joumou, often using recipes passed down through generations.
• Communal sharing: It is customary to share the soup not only with family but also with neighbors, friends, and community members, fostering a spirit of unity and generosity.
• Cultural events: In Haiti and in diaspora communities, cultural centers host storytelling sessions, music, poetry, and history talks focused on the significance of the dish.
• Educational programs: Schools and Haitian organizations may host events to teach younger generations about the history behind the soup and the revolution it commemorates.
• UNESCO tributes: Since 2021, some events include official recognitions and reflections on the soup’s international cultural heritage status.

Above all, the day is about remembering and reclaiming dignity—eating a soup once denied to the enslaved and now revered as a national treasure.

In which countries is National Soup Joumou Day celebrated?

While National Soup Joumou Day is most widely celebrated in Haiti, it is also observed with equal pride among the Haitian diaspora across the globe, including:

• United States – especially in cities with large Haitian communities like Miami, New York City, and Boston.
• Canada – notably in Montreal and Ottawa.
• France – home to one of the largest Haitian communities in Europe.
• Dominican Republic, Bahamas, and other Caribbean nations with Haitian populations.
• United Kingdom, Belgium, and other parts of Europe where Haitians live and work.

Haitian embassies and cultural centers often host public soup tastings, exhibitions, and events to celebrate the occasion and educate international audiences about the cultural richness of Haiti.