The tradition in Haiti is to stay up all night and have “soup Joumou” (pumpkin soup) to celebrate the coming New Year. This comes from when Haiti declared its independence from France in 1804.

Joumou soup was a dish only for the ruling class of the French, who dominated Haiti, and the enslaved Haitians were not permitted to eat it. January 1 in Haiti is their “Independence Day,” and they all like to celebrate it with soup Joumou.

Our tradition in America is to celebrate New Years with ham hock, cabbage, and black-eyed peas. Traditions like these are important ways for us to remember the past year and be unified in looking forward to the new year starting.

As Bobby and Sherry and all of us at Love A Child reflect on this past year and position ourselves to continue our committed work in the new year, we thank each of you who come alongside us to do God’s work in Haiti. We had another very successful year of feeding bodies and souls throughout 2025, and we are grateful to think you will be there with us as we work together through 2026.

Happy New Year, may God always bless the work of your hands.

Rad Hazelip, Assistant Executive Director