In Haiti, Christmas Eve used to be as important if not more important than Christmas Day

PHOTO: Haiti - Christmas Tree at the National Palace

Christmas Eve in Haiti used to be the night when children don't sleep, we can do whatever we want and adults wont say anything.

I remember spending Christmas in Cite Militaire at my uncle Wilfrid's home.

He was strict but so tolerant during the Christmas Holiday. Ton Wilfrid would let me do whatever I wanted. Perhaps he didn't know that I learned how to smoke as a child one Christmas eve right across the street from his home under "Pye Cachiman".

He only knew about the "tito" and "douce kokoye" I went to go buy chez madame Riviere up the street but, Ton Wilfrid, it was much more than that. Why do you think I enjoyed Christmas Eve at your house so much?

Christmas Eve was Independence Day for a country boy like myself spending the day at Ton Wilfrid's in Cite Militaire.

To bad, the old man died and I cannot tell him all about it.

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas but, to all the children in Haiti, I'd rather wish you a happy Christmas Eve.

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