Traditions of Jacmel
A coastal town of papier-mâché masks, where the Kanaval and its great parade celebrate resistance and fantasy.
Jacmel is a port on the south coast of Haiti, a town of old French colonial buildings and a school of artists. Its Carnival is the most imaginative in the Caribbean, with papier-mâché masks and costumes of animals and spirits. Vodou, the national religion, is practised alongside Catholicism.
Kanaval and Vodou
At Carnival, bands roam the streets with the sound of drums and rara trumpets, and wear papier-mâché masks and satirical costumes. The Vodou tradition honours lwa, spirits, in ceremonies with drums, songs and dances. In July, pilgrims go to Saut-d'Eau, a waterfall sacred to both Vodou and Catholic faith.
At the table
Griot, fried pork, with rice and beans, and pikliz, a spicy pickled slaw, are Haitian staples. Soup joumou, a pumpkin soup, is served on 1 January to celebrate independence. Akasan, a corn drink, and tablet pistach, a peanut sweet, are common. Haitian coffee is strong.
Signature traditions of Jacmel
Also part of it, and being written: Haitian Vodou (The faith.), Soup joumou (The independence soup.).
A trail idea for Jacmel
- Cap Marie workshops See papier-mâché makers.
- Jacmel Beachfront Walk the boulevard.
- Bassin-Bleu Swim in blue pools.
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Haitian Carnival: User:Doron, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Rara: Lombinodr Alfonso Lomba, CC BY 3.0, source