Years ago, I learned about the Haitian tradition of consuming white foods on Good Friday or Easter. Families will share a meal that consists of white bean gravy (sòs pwa), white rice (diri blan), white chicken (poul blan), macaroni aux gratin (makawoni gratine), and root veggies like yams and potatoes. Some families will eat fish instead of white chicken. The only deviation from the all-white-themed menu is our legendary beet salad. And of course, you typically also wear white on Easter.
If you are now wondering "why," me too! For years I'd ask elders, people from different regions etc. if they knew the origins of this practice. The answer was always the same "se konsa li ye," "it's just like that." It's what we do.
This is a curiously innerving answer for a Type A++ personality like me. I did eventually learn that it’s to symbolize purity, renewal, and spiritual cleansing. Of course, like many of our traditions, there is a duality of it bridging both Christian celebrations and our traditional faith carried from Africa.
But what is most fascinating to me isn’t the “why,” but that the “why” wasn’t important for us to maintain this tradition. Our ability to carry these traditions because “it’s just what we do.”
It made me think of how many of our customs have persevered because of this. How people in the countryside are so welcoming - “it’s just what we do.” How automatically children are part of a village regardless of whether they are your children, “it’s just what we do.” The countless traditional medicinal methods that provide so much comfort.
While as an inquisitive person, I’m always very insistent on asking “why.” I’m eternally grateful that I have a reason to celebrate renewal through white foods, a sharp-dressed family, and breaking bread with loved ones every year.
As the years pass, I also notice that this tradition seems to be diminishing. I was lucky enough to celebrate this yesterday with my family and plan on continuing to do it for many years to come.
Do you do this with your family? What are some of your family's Easter traditions?
However you celebrate your season, anpil lanmou (lots of love), for you and your treasured ones.
Regine
P.S. We have no April Fool's joke in this email because honestly, everything already feels foolish enough.
P.S.S. Yes, this March Newsletter came out in April. 😩 - March was Marching this year.
