LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Members of the Haitian community around Lima came together to celebrate their Independence Day.
Following mass at Saint Charles, the crowd gathered to enjoy what would be Haiti’s 220th Independence Day. In the late 1700s, the people of the island now known as Haiti, revolted against the French colonizers to be the world’s first free Black republic on January 1st, 1804. An important part of the celebration is Soup Joumou which is made of squash puree, meat, and vegetables. The event was organized by people in the area including Doctor Eddy and Irene Bruno, who themselves left Haiti 20 years ago to come to Lima and they wanted to celebrate this important day with the growing number of people from Haiti.
“For the past year we have been seeing, so many Haitians coming and we use this day to have them come together, so we can be together as a people from Haiti and to also welcome them,” says Dr. Eddy Bruno. “At least help them and provide some guidance to them.”
“And we are very happy that we are able to do that,” adds Irene Bruno. “That shows diversity, and that shows also the unity between us. Because that’s what the flag says, ‘Together We Are Strong.’ To bring them together, they have been in town for a while, we chose the opportunity to get them together today, not only to celebrate the day. But share a meal together, that is big for us.”
The Brunos say they would like to make the Haitian Independence Day an annual celebration in Lima.
