On January 1, 1804, after the final battle defeating the French, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the leader of the Haitian revolution, declared independence for the colony and renamed it “Haiti” after its Native American Taino name. The freed Haitians made a humble squash soup to celebrate their victory and freedom. This simple soup, “Soup Joumou,” is eaten for breakfast all over Haiti on New Year’s morning – to celebrate Haiti’s freedom.
One of the ways we celebrate events – birthdays, holidays, special accomplishments – is through a meal of some kind. We eat certain things on Thanksgiving, for example, to remember the meal the Pilgrims ate all those years ago. We choose certain favorite meals for birthdays, or a meaningful dessert, that may not be fancy or expensive, but is sentimental in some way. Similarly, the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist, is a simple meal – bread and wine – that calls to mind an important and special meal 2,000 years ago. We eat this meal today to remember the sacrifice of Jesus and the freedom we have in Him through His death and resurrection.
As we step into the new year, at the Pierre house, we’ll be eating soup joumou, to celebrate Haiti’s freedom and our family’s heritage, just like we also celebrate the Fourth of July. However you celebrate New Year’s Eve and Day, I pray it’s meaningful and full of gratitude for our hope and freedom in Christ. I’m praying rich blessings on your family in 2026. I’m praying you and your children know and experience hope – not because of new goals, resolutions or intentions, but because of Jesus.
