Thursday, June 11, 2009

Haitian Holiday - today

Today is a Haitian Holiday for which many people do not seem to remember the name. Some people call it "God's Day" but like I said, most people do not remember the name and as to why there is a holiday today.

I was told by a friend that even the U.S. Embassy is closed today for this holiday, since the embassy observes all U.S. and Haitian holidays. However, it was not listed as a closing holiday on the 2009 holiday list of closures.

Some kids that I spoke with yesterday told me that they had school today. Workers in town said that they were working today, but others confirmed this holiday. Hmmm...

So, I guess that Ministry of Interior will be closed too? And the thing is, if there is a holiday on a Thursday, don't expect anybody to work on Friday since the holiday would be convenient to taking a four-day weekend. MOI only has office hours on Thursday and Friday. Last week, they were not receiving anybody because of the director's sister's death. This week, they will probably not be receiving anybody because today is the "mystery holiday" and tomorrow might be a "all staff is out for the weekend" holiday. We shall see...

Yesterday, the demonstrators were still protesting around the park area of the palace in downtown. I think that we have gotten used to this now. Life goes on as normal around the surrounding streets as long as the protesters don't decided to take a "walk" up to the next street. I wonder if the protestors will be observing "God's Day" today? Maybe they will take the weekend off and make it a four-day weekend?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Vera, Your post made me laugh and research. Apparently today is on the Catholic liturgical calendar, the Feast of Corpus Christi or the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. I found an old website (from 2003) that called it FĂȘte Dieu.

Anonymous said...

I vote that if you don't know why there is a holiday or what the holiday is- you don't get to have a holiday.
TIH
and TIR- this is ridiculous.

Jediah L. said...

The irony of it all was lost in the humor of it all... frustrating but hilarious.

Anonymous said...

LOL!
Sick and frustrating indeed, but you managed to evoke a laugh out of me in spite of all of that.....
There's always next week, right?
Here's to next week!
Thanks for all you do.........