In Haiti, Santa Claus is called Tonton Nwèl, which means "Uncle Christmas" in Haitian Creole, and he brings toys and treats for children who leave out clean shoes filled with straw on Christmas Eve instead of stockings.
Tonton Nwél: In wealthier families, children place their shoes, neatly cleaned and filled with straw on the porch or under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. Tonton Nwèl (Santa Claus) is expected to remove the straw and put presents in and around the shoes.
During the night, Tonton Nwèl (Santa Claus) brings toys for the younger children. Christmas Day features piñatas, feasting, and a song and dance competition. Traditionally, Haitians exchange gifts with one another on Christmas Day.
Overall, when you consider tourists, the largest celebration in Haiti is Carnival or 'Defile Kanaval'. The extent of these early February festivities takes the word holiday to a new dimension.
Prolonged eye contact may be interpreted as rude. Pointing at another person is considered rude. Haitian people may express disapproval by rolling the eyes, looking to the ceiling, or crossing arms over the chest.
Haitian Creole Word of the Day: Timoun = “Child” 👧🏽👦🏾
In South Africa, Santa Claus is known by different names in various languages, adding a unique multicultural twist to the celebrations. Sinterklaas and Kersvader are two joyous names for Santa Claus in South Africa, reflecting the country's diverse cultural heritage.
In French, Haiti's nickname is La Perle des Antilles ("Pearl of the Antilles") because of both its natural beauty and the amount of wealth it accumulated for the Kingdom of France.
SOU MOUN: This is a common slang phrase in Haitian Creole that means "wannabe" or "obsessed with the options of others." In some context it just means "annoying." For example, someone who is always interrupting the conversations of others or giving their opinions when not requested.
The name Santa Claus evolved from Nick's Dutch nickname, Sinter Klaas, a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas (Dutch for Saint Nicholas). In 1804, John Pintard, a member of the New York Historical Society, distributed woodcuts of St.
“Ewo” is Haitian Creole for “Hero”. It's pronounced “e- woah” with a long letter 'e' and ends with excitement - woah!!
In Haiti Coke (half liter glass bottle) costs 4 "Dollars", a ride by "Tap-Tap" 2$, a portion of delicious spaghetti with chicken sauce $15.
gado + n + kaka → gadon kaka = “grandma's bed”
Many Vodouists were involved in the Haitian Revolution of 1791 to 1801 which overthrew the French colonial government, abolished slavery, and transformed Saint-Domingue into the republic of Haiti. The Catholic Church left for several decades following the Revolution, allowing Vodou to become Haiti's dominant religion.
Religion in Haiti
Christmas Day
As with any good holiday, there is plenty of food! Haitians enjoy a happy day spent with family and friends. Children spend time playing with the new presents brought by Tonton Nwèl and when it gets dark, play with sparklers called pi detwal. Pi detwal translates to “rain of stars.”
As the first black independent country with a story of a successful slave revolt, Haiti was a ray of hope for African-Americans in the United States during the nineteenth century.
The response, “N'ap Boule” is a contraction of “nou ap boule” from “Nous après brûler,” literally meaning “we are burning” and representing the response “we're good” or “we're hanging out.”
Nou se lanmè, nou pa kenbe kras – A proverb, and of Radio Haiti's slogans. Literally “We are like the sea, we wash away the dirt.” It means “we reveal the truth, we don't keep secrets.”