Jwaye Soup Joumou *Happy Soup Joumou*
Nice seeing you again reader 😊😊. Whether you're one to celebrate it or not, make a big fuss about it or not, I'm sure you're appreciative to see a new year and focus on better positivity for this one to lay foundations for a better lifetime to live through.
Now, I know what you're saying, "you must really like food to be starting off your new post with food Mr. E. Especially to start off the year, huh?" Well, to your question yes I do like food 😁🤣. But there's also a specific reason I'm starting with this dish that may not seem like much.
The pictured dish is called soup joumou, as this entry's title reads. It's a hearty butternut squash soup that also has beef, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, yams, malanga (which is a rooted vegetable), turnips, celery and a few other things, that's very hearty and fulfilling enjoyed by Haitians regardless where they're to mark the date when Haiti gained its independence from France.
To give you some knowledge, once upon a time Haiti was under France's control, and slaves banded together to have an uprising whilst being led by a former slave named Toussaint Louverture. The battle started on Monday the 21st of February 1791 until Sunday 1st of January 1804 where it's known as the official date to be recognized as Haitian independence day & the soup is consumed.
A little extra piece of knowledge, in some Haitian households, ironically enough, ritually and faithfully certain families would have the soup when they start off their day. Of course the soup would most often be cooked prepped up the day prior to be better enjoyed on Sunday. Now, I know if you're not Haitian, don't have knowledge of Haitian cuisine, or just know you have breakfast differently, to consume that as breakfast on Sundays would be common without a shock to some.
The soup itself can be eaten alone as the picture shows. Though, there are those who prefer to enjoy it with fresh, or warm baton Moïse (Moses stick). It's the pic shown below, which in a way is the Haitian baguette, if you may. Definitely hits different and better than sliced bread [not sorry 🤣🤣] and it definitely fills you up
The richer part of the soup, and how far it extends especially, is that Haitians who are known for being all over this planet (to give you an idea, I know of a Haitian family in Aussie/Australia) & they have their soup on the 1st. By the same breath, Haitians even being in Canada, USA, Belgium, even the UK enjoy it. What's most interesting, and a profound thing to account is how other cultures, or other people OF other cultures, especially of a certain country, scout for soup also. I know this year of a few folks I've met the year prior, were on the hunt like us for some good soup. Some were even given by different people. The soup is also a great way to bond with folks, and brings so many things together.
Until my next post. Peace, love & positivity. Ayibobo ✊✊✊
