For whatever reason, I love Halloween. Maybe it’s the beautiful fall colors, cooler weather, dressing up in goofy clothing, memories of trick-or-treating… I also love carving pumpkins. We were in the states in September this year and had a chance to do that with our friends one evening. Now back in Haiti, I wanted to share that same tradition with our Haitian workers at the guesthouse.
Josiane went to the market for us to pick up a pumpkin, carried it on her head, transported it in a tap-tap, and eventually arrived at the guesthouse with … a watermelon? No, it really is a pumpkin. Haitian pumpkins are actually green! So I did my best to explain our tradition of carving pumpkins each year, and though they thought it was a bit strange, our workers wanted to try it out.
Clarel drew the face on, and then we set up shop to carve it out. Each of them took a turn scooping it out, and then carving the face. They were pretty serious during the whole process, and ended up doing a great job!
The best part was our discussion trying to understand the other’s viewpoint on pumpkins. Haitians never carve them, but rather slice them in half, gut out the middle, and then bake/boil them to make soup or other things. Sometimes after baking it, they eat the pumpkin with a spoon, just like that. The seeds are sometimes used for planting more pumpkins, but only one of our workers who was from the countryside had ever eaten them. Her family would rinse the seeds, then lay them out in the sun to dry (because they don’t own ovens), and then peel off the outer shell to eat the seed.
When I told them that we put our pumpkins outside at night, they all had the exact same reaction – “Don’t the rats eat them?” I guess we in the States don’t really have that problem, but when I explained to them that people smash them in the streets, they were very confused.
It was truly fascinating to look at one of our American traditions from new eyes. Who knew that something so “normal” as carving a pumpkin could be such a crazy concept in another culture.
3 responses to “Pumpkin Carving – Haiti Style”
Wow! What a crazy picture! It’s even more scary than an orange pumpkin!
Good job with the carving everybody!
When we were in Tanzania they served us pumpkin leaves – steamed I think. They were actually pretty good, and reminded me of spinach (only not bitter). I looked it up when we got home, and they are apparently a good source of vitamins too (haven’t tried eating them from our garden though). I never saw the pumpkins actually growing there, and am now curious if they look like ours, or green like the one you carved.
Hope all is well with you guys! Sonya
I read your articles and actually envy you. Although life is very basic for you in Haiti, that is actually what I envy. You do what you have to do and then get up to do the same thing the next day. You are busy and together and serving others, which must be very fulfilling. Much of my time I feel like I am going through the motions of living, but for what reason. I desire something more — not possessions or accomplishments — but something that leaves me feeling really good about how my time is being spent — adding value to others lives, as well as my own. At the moment, I don’t know what that ‘thing’ is, but I am open to the Lord’s moving in my life. God Bless YOU!!