Haitian slaves were not allowed to have this delicious and aromatic pumpkin soup, a favorite of French slave masters. On Sunday, January 1, 1804, when they gained their freedom, they celebrated with music and food in the Place d’Armes, in the city of Gonaives. And what better way to celebrate than to eat the very thing they were unable to eat as slaves? Nowadays it doesn’t matter where in the world a Haitian might be on Jan. 1—they will be having the soup of freedom.