Haitians celebrated Mother’s Day on May 26, 2019, with the deep affection and reverence for mothers that is a hallmark of Haitian culture, even as the year’s political and economic crisis cast a shadow over the celebration for many families. Flower vendors reported strong sales despite the economic hardship, and churches were full for special masses honoring mothers.
For many Haitian mothers, the day brought mixed emotions. The joy of being celebrated by their children was real, but so was the anxiety of raising families in a country where food prices were rising, schools were intermittently closed, and the security situation was deteriorating. Many mothers described the extraordinary mental and emotional labor of keeping families stable and fed during months of crisis.
Women’s organizations used Mother’s Day to draw attention to the specific challenges facing Haitian mothers: high maternal mortality rates, limited access to prenatal care, the burden of providing for children when formal employment was scarce and the informal economy was disrupted. They called on the government to prioritize investment in maternal and child health regardless of the political situation.
In the diaspora, Haitian communities in Miami, New York, Montreal, and Paris organized special Mother’s Day events that doubled as fundraisers for relatives in Haiti. The generosity of the diaspora toward their homeland was never more evident than during the celebration of the mothers who had raised them.