CELEBRATIONS

THE CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE

One of the first things I quickly realized after arriving in Haiti to start my work as a missionary was the stark contrast between our two cultures in the area of celebrating life. In the U.S. most of us have to keep a day planner close at hand so we can schedule all of the meetings, functions, parties and events that make up our lives. In the states we celebrate birthdays and some families have so many that they get together each month to celebrate those born in that particular month.

We have holiday celebrations and the mandatory huge feasts. In most families there is Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Easter. Then there are Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day the three summer time holidays that require cookouts, grilling and barbecuing. We can't forget sporting events like Super Bowl Sunday, the Final Four, World Series and of course that American phenomenon "the tailgate party". Graduation parties from Junior High, High School and college will be taking place all across America this month and next. Most of us attend at least one or more weddings each year along with bachelor parties, wedding showers and later on baby showers, christening, dedication and baptism celebrations. Those of us who belong to Churches can often find our weeks filled with activities of Christian fellowship.

In Haiti life is much different, celebrations can be mostly put under that of marriage and death. These two events no matter what you or your family's status require the expenditure of significant amounts of planning, time and finances. These are not only family events and celebrations but also that of your village, church, neighborhood and community.

During my time in Haiti I have attended four weddings, two funeral parties and one funeral. I would say there is no comparison of those events to those I have attended in the states. As an example in April I attended a funeral party for the aunt of one of my G.A.P. co-workers Diesmy Gargon (Jasmine). The funeral party is usually held the evening before the funeral. Jasmine's aunt had actually passed away over three weeks earlier at the age of a hundred, not the typical age of death in Haiti. Her body stayed at the morgue for that length of time as the family planned , prepared and raised money to pay for this final event of her life.

Her crypt had to be repaired and repainted, the family home was completely repainted, a new outside toilet and shower with block walls was built for family from the states to use when they flew home for the funeral. There was food and drinks to buy and chairs and tables to rent.

Then there is the actual cost of the funeral, for the family. They had a close relative who is a furniture maker and in Haiti they also make coffins. I got to see her coffin two days before the body was placed in it. It was made out of some of Haiti's finest lumber, it still awaited the upholstery and hardware but one could appreciate it's quality. To purchase it would have cost $10,000 Haitian dollars. The expense for the funeral itself, the preparation of the body and storage at the morgue another $30,000 Haitian dollar. These are staggering sums of money for not only my friend's family but most all Haitians, who struggle at making $150-250 Haitian dollars a week.

I have no idea what weddings can cost in Haiti most likely every much or more than funerals. Once again the utmost detail and planning goes into these events and for most it takes several years before the actual event is able to take place.

One of the other events that is celebrated so much in the states but not so much in Haiti is that involving children. Births and birthdays don't get a lot of attention, yes children are loved but not much time nor money is spent on celebrating these events. One event that does get some attention is that of graduating, though I think this may be more because the schools usually charge an extra fee for it so the families go ahead and celebrate it. In a country where the majority struggle day to day to even sustain life it is always inspiring to see the desire they have to celebrate it. In God's love, steve