Under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the Association Aide et Action has organized the 10th edition of the Christmas Village from December 23 to 25, 2021 in the metropolis of the South-East, in Jacmel. A 10th edition totally dedicated to the talents of young people and children of Jacmel.
In a space decorated with fir trees and Christmas trees, Jacmelians had their moments of traditional delights on the occasion of the holiday season.
“The traditional Christmas Village of Jacmel was for the Association Aide et Action the opportunity to propel to the front of the stage a new generation of artists dancers, singers, storytellers, choreographers, musicians … all, talents in the making, but to live their performances and cultural representations, these children and youth had nothing to envy the stars of the place who have already made the tour of the world.
They composed orchestras, dance troupes, musical groups to offer a show of purity and innocence that reminds the true spirit of Christmas.
All the great Haitian artists: from Lionel Benjamin (Le Père Noel Haitien), to Yole Dérose…were well represented, if it is about the choreographic or musical interpretations of the young people and children of Jacmel.
Incredibly but true: to watch the children going from a song-message of awareness asking adults to respect the barrier-gestures and sanitary measures to avoid catching the new coronavirus; to the execution of a melody-tribute in memory of the Diva Lumande Casimir, one could believe to be dealing with a recital… so much so that there was no room for improvisation.
“It is this model of youth that we must offer to the country. In Jacmel, it is this example that we want to offer to the society…Let’s send the children to our music and dance schools to offer them other opportunities” said the host of the evenings reminding that the children do not need guns.
And those who were on the stage had each one a musical instrument between his fingers of which he mastered the notes [as to emphasize the song ”musica” of the great French singer, Michel Sardou] and this of the percussionist to the very young and very talented main singer of a group that gratified the public of a marvelous spectacle.
Then comes the time of the great ones
All the great classics of the musical world, especially those related to the spirit of Christmas, were performed on this occasion: either singing or dancing. The Christmas Village of Jacmel, beyond being a moment of discovery of talents, has always been also a moment of confirmation for local groups and choreographers who often wait for such occasions to show to the face of the world of “what wood they are heated”. Modop and Amigos…The Ballet Grand Soleil and the Cultural Troupe Explosion…made the party. Really…
To perpetuate the traditions:A Fanal contest and a nativity scene and the Big Fir Tree…
The 10th edition of the Christmas Village of Jacmel of this year, like the others, has always been for the Metropolis of the South’East a moment to allow artists and especially craftsmen of all kinds to expose their works for a young public in major part but also available for an activity that shows the transmission of knowledge, know-how and the knowledge of the City of Alcius Charmant and Aliciabe Pomeraque
And the crib: an originality of the craftsmen of Jacmel. The big Christmas tree, a work that showed the greatness and imagination of the Jacmelian craftsmen and artists. Beyond all this, the Fanal contest was one of the highlights of the 2021 edition of the Christmas Village of Jacmel. Besides the attractive bonuses offered to the winners, the Fanal contest perpetuates a Haitian tradition at Christmas time which is obviously tending to disappear in Haiti as this habit is losing its quintessence in the country. But at the Christmas Village of Jacmel, everything is still there to safeguard an intangible heritage well anchored in the Haitian imagination.
The Christmas Village: an activity of community solidarity
Beyond the large financial subsidy from the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the entire Jacmelian community, from socio-political figures to certain commercial institutions, has always made it its mission to support the Jacmel Christmas Village in a different way.
For Aide et Action and for the future
Through the 10th edition of the Christmas Village of Jacmel, Aide et Action wanted to prove that children are not only able to receive toys at the end of the year, they can make them, play them, so use them wisely but show the adults how to use them to build generation of artists but also responsible leaders in the national sectors.
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