soup joumou en · NOUN
Etymology
Partial calque of French soupe au giraumon (literally “pumpkin soup”).
Meanings
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(uncountable) A mildly spiced pumpkin soup originating in Haiti and traditionally consumed on New Year's Day to mark Haitian independence.
Kitchens turn out gallons of soup joumou, a pumpkin soup once enjoyed only by rich French merchants and planters, but claimed as their own by former slaves after independence.
1988 December 9–15, WQ, “Christmas tradition in Haiti”, in Richard M. Gaines, editor, The Boston Phoenix, volume XVII, number 50, Boston, Mass.: Boston Phoenix Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, section 4, page 6, column 1:Most Haitians eat soup joumou on the first of the year, on the anniversary of Haitian Independence Day.
2016, Edwidge Danticat, “Soup Joumou”, in Natalie Eve Garrett, editor, The Artists’ and Writers’ Cookbook: A Collection of Stories with Recipes, Brooklyn, N.Y.: powerHouse Books, →ISBN, “Soups & Salads” section, page 41, column 1:In her right hand she holds the cup of soup joumou.
2014, Ted Oswald, “Independence Day”, in Because We Are: A Novel of Haiti, Seattle, Wash.: Thomas & Mercer, →ISBN, page 80: