Soup & Bread: Haitian-style

Friday, November 6, 2026
6:00-8:30pm
with Elsy

Why Do Haitians Eat Pumpkin Soup (Soup Joumou)?

Soup Joumou is much more than a delicious Haitian pumpkin soup. It is a powerful symbol of freedom.

During the colonial era in Saint-Domingue, now Haiti, enslaved Haitians prepared elaborate foods for their French colonizers while living under a brutal system of slavery that denied them freedom and dignity. Soup Joumou was one of the dishes the slaves were not permitted to enjoy.

After Haitians defeated the French and declared their independence in 1804, this pumpkin soup (Soup Joumou) became a symbol of their newly won freedom. Today, Haitians around the world continue the tradition of eating Soup Joumou on January 1st to celebrate Haiti’s Independence Day and honor the courage, resilience, and freedom of their ancestors.

In this hands-on class, we’ll explore the history and cultural significance of Soup Joumou while learning different ways to prepare this delicious Haitian soup.

We’ll also make French baguette and Haitian bread from scratch to enjoy alongside our Soup Joumou.

• Students may choose to use beef in their Soup Joumou or keep it vegan.

• Registration for this class will close on Wednesday, November 4 at 6pm, so we have time to shop for ingredients and prep class materials.

Please view our FAQs before registering.