A Day of Freedom for Youth
“Good Friday is one of the rare days that I have the freedom to go out with my friends to play all day long and also to eat a big meal,” says Peterson, age 14.
Most of the child development centers take advantage of the Easter break to organize youth retreats for older kids. The retreats usually last from four to five days, giving young people a chance to reflect, socialize, and prepare spiritually for Easter.
Traditional Good Friday Meals in Haiti
One of the most important parts of the Easter tradition in Haiti is the meal. Most families in both rural and urban areas eat fish and rice cooked with white beans and beetroot on Good Friday. No one, neither Catholic nor Protestant, would put red meat on the table on this day.
According to an old Haitian myth, not only is seafood good to eat, but red meat put on the table would turn into blood. The deeper reason for avoiding red meat is tied to faith: it symbolizes Jesus’ blood, which Christians believe was shared on Good Friday to wash away people’s sins.
Good Friday at the Table and in the Streets
On Good Friday, food is generally served at noon. The table is covered with a clean white tablecloth purchased or put into service just for the occasion. During dinnertime, boys are often missing, scattered around the community with their friends, busy making and flying kites.
Easter Break and Kite Competitions
Easter vacation generally starts one or two weeks before Good Friday. This gives schoolchildren enough time to attend retreats and prepare for kite contests. In some areas, prizes are awarded for the nicest kites or those that fly the highest.
A Modest but Meaningful Celebration
Unlike the New Year’s season, when parents must buy new clothes and shoes for their children, Easter does not cost parents much. Expenses are usually limited to a little money for boys to buy colored paper, wire, and glue to make kites, along with funds to cook a good meal. Meanwhile, young girls are busy helping in the kitchen, learning to cook at an early age.
Parents often challenge boys by promising more money for a larger kite the following year if they earn good grades at the end of the school year. This motivates many boys to study hard, knowing academic success could lead to an even better kite next Easter.
Chasing the Wind All Day Long
Boys take full advantage of the freedom to run long distances, often barefoot, with their friends. Though the ground is very hot under their feet, they do not mind. The only thing that matters is their kite—no matter what it’s made of, as long as it flies high and lasts the day.
