L'été en Haïti, où sont passés les jeux traditionnels Haïtiens? Summer in Haiti and the United S
Over the years we have seen the traditional Haitian games, arts and crafts that used to entertain us disappear. Folks young and old used to find joy playing cercle (circle), osselet, titato, and dominoes as well as soccer l and folk dancing, especially during the summer. If you were born in the 70s, 80s and even 90s you may remember these delightful leisure- time activities. The encroachment of technology into our daily lives—cell phones, video games and the Internet—bury these pass time, isolating individuals away from community and the strength of cultural identity. Is there a way to reintroduce these treasures so that younger generations can enjoy them? They used to make us happy and reconnect us to our grandparents. We can create some time to appreciate what we have and enhance it. We encourage you all to make time and space to recreate the passion for family and community and save what represents our unique identity and heritage.
Same thing has happened to traditional regional leisure pass time in many other diverse heritages in the US. The songs, tales and dances are the first to disappear, as they are “oral tradition” material. The authority and prestige of our elders breaks away along with these ties to identity and language with the overpowering influence and attractions of the Internet and other technologies; although these are not the only detractors. One way to reinvest youth in these traditions is to organize and hold an annual festival with traditional food, arts, crafts, story-tellers, singers and dancers. This offers an opportunity to bridge elders with the knowledge and experience with younger generations to learn these arts, keep them and find in them new meaning and life. Especially, how do traditional materials support, sustain and give strength to new reiterations? Nothing comes from nothing; everything comes from something. That means that contemporary musicians and singers, for example, should recognize how their traditional roots support their success, and make that connection palpable to those who come to hear and admire them. Not only that, but it gives the larger outside community a chance to experience and learn. I am not Greek, but I sure did have a ball attending a Greek festival sponsored by the local Greek Orthodox church. I danced, listened to traditional stories, learned a few words in Greek, made some friends, etc.
PS. I have taught my grandchildren to play dominoes, as it is a great numbers teaching tool. Everyone who comes to the festival must turn OFF their cell phones!! When I was teaching, students found very clever ways to use them to cheat on exams. . . ( Elizabeth Drake-Boyt)
Les osselets
(Français)
Au fil des années nous voyons la disparition des jeux traditionnels Haïtiens, jeux et contes qui ont l'habitude de nous entretenir. Jeunes et moins jeunes trouvaient la joie dans les jeux de cercle, les osselets, titato, domino sans oublier le football et la danse folklorique que certains pratiquent surtout durant les vacances d'été. Si vous êtes nés dans les années 70, 80 et 90 vous vous en souvenez sans doute de ces jeux qui aujourd'huisontpresqu'inexsistants. L'évolution rapide de la technologie, les téléphones portables, les jeux videos et l'internet enterrent nos jeux traditionnels. Y a-t-il un moyen de les faire renaitre? Ces derniers ont l'habitude de faire notre joie et celle de nos grands parents. Nous pouvons recréer du temps pour apprécier ce que nous avons et le valoriser. Nous vous encourageons tous à raviver ce qui represente en quelques sortes notre identité et notre patrimoine.
Jeu " marel"
