So in Haiti there is not one Carnival, but two of them... and, to distinguish them, the one that starts today is called Flower Carnival (Carnaval des Fleurs).
This is a bit of what it looks like. Unfortunately I don't have any first hand photos as our organisation doesn't allow us to participate in crowded, outdoor events as this one, but I might get some pictures from a friend that I could share later on...
But not only is it already strange to me that a country with so many difficulties and lack of budget decides to do a massive party when there are so many mouths to feed and bigger things to plan (such as the elections, which are now confirmed to happen in October, after a 3-year delay) - this event is also happening at the same time as another important date, which is much less joyous to remember.
So the government confirmed last week that the Carnival would be from the 27th to 29th July, Monday being a half day at work (for the national staff) and Tuesday full day holiday. Let's try and guess how many sick absences there will be tomorrow morning when we get to the office... :P (half day, really?)
But for the second year now, this popular celebration coincides with an important, not so cheerful event which took place on July 28th 1915. On this date, the American marines landed in Haiti starting a US occupation of the country which would only finish in 1934, so 19 years after. This was, as you can imagine, a period of violence and repression. Different tone to your typical Carnival.
A sociologist mentioned about this that 'Haiti has a particular relation to its historical memory'. Another academic asks if this period of national history is really being studied in the university. And what do Haitian and American researchers think about the American occupation.
Whatever the answers may be and how much the thrill of Carnival can help soften rougher realities, one should not forget that period and it would be good to have frank debates about what it represented to the actuality and future of Haiti.
Forgetting is at least one attempt at not letting history repeat itself. And maybe talking about it could help Haiti's society define better its sort of schizophrenic relationship to the US.
But what do I know... I've only been here for 4 weeks...
This is a bit of what it looks like. Unfortunately I don't have any first hand photos as our organisation doesn't allow us to participate in crowded, outdoor events as this one, but I might get some pictures from a friend that I could share later on...
But not only is it already strange to me that a country with so many difficulties and lack of budget decides to do a massive party when there are so many mouths to feed and bigger things to plan (such as the elections, which are now confirmed to happen in October, after a 3-year delay) - this event is also happening at the same time as another important date, which is much less joyous to remember.
So the government confirmed last week that the Carnival would be from the 27th to 29th July, Monday being a half day at work (for the national staff) and Tuesday full day holiday. Let's try and guess how many sick absences there will be tomorrow morning when we get to the office... :P (half day, really?)
But for the second year now, this popular celebration coincides with an important, not so cheerful event which took place on July 28th 1915. On this date, the American marines landed in Haiti starting a US occupation of the country which would only finish in 1934, so 19 years after. This was, as you can imagine, a period of violence and repression. Different tone to your typical Carnival.
A sociologist mentioned about this that 'Haiti has a particular relation to its historical memory'. Another academic asks if this period of national history is really being studied in the university. And what do Haitian and American researchers think about the American occupation.
Whatever the answers may be and how much the thrill of Carnival can help soften rougher realities, one should not forget that period and it would be good to have frank debates about what it represented to the actuality and future of Haiti.
Forgetting is at least one attempt at not letting history repeat itself. And maybe talking about it could help Haiti's society define better its sort of schizophrenic relationship to the US.
But what do I know... I've only been here for 4 weeks...
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