I do not know about you but Christmas season for me as I was growing up in Haiti as a young child was magic. Unlike the commercialized holiday season we come to accept today, the memories I have of Christmas in Haiti was not so much about how many gifts I would receive from families and friends but rather forming relationships.

The days preceding Christmas was a story by themselves. Girls and boys in groups visit the decorated stores. They walk around the market, stopping at the booths, browsing the shelves and picking up a greeting card for Mommy, a friend, or a teacher. Some boys pick up Christmas tree branches and give surprisingly a quick sting to any bystanders or anyone in their way.

The day of Christmas usually started after Mass in Haiti, which usually ends around 2 o’clock am. Your only choice as a child is to go to bed in a deep sleep or fake being asleep so you can see Santa “Tonton Noel”, carrying his heavy sack, full of expected, wanted, wished toys, gifts, or presents.

Finally the long awaited morning of Christmas arrives when you know your would not get into trouble waking up your Haitian parents . When waking up in the morning, you quickly flip your pillow; push it aside to look for the toys as it is Santa’s favorite place to hide them if you were good according to your parents. Children carry that innocent tale for as long as they can remember.

Children happily unpack, unwrap their toys. They jump around, scream all their lungs. Go house to house to show their friends. It is complete joy! The most important, it is vacation time. You don’t have to worry about school, homework, getting up early, meaning more time to enjoy the toys, play around, and have fun with family and friends.

Do you have a similar experience spending Christmas season in Haiti?

If so, do you want to talk about it?

Your opinion counts. Please comment
Joyeux Noel!
Merry Christmas!
Feliz Navidad!