7 News Belize

Celebrating the Art and Science of The “Fiyahaawt”
posted (August 25, 2011)
We've heard about the many colorful festivals celebrated annually across the country, from cashew-fest in Crooked tree, to lobster-fest in Caye Caulker, the Mango-fest in Hopkins, and we're sure there are many Punta-fests in Dangriga - and that's because we haven't even started talking about the festivals of San Joaquin, Benque Viejo or Costa Maya! Well now, the village of Willows Bank says 'da time fu we show off fu we rich tradition of cooking using the fyah haat'! And so was born Belize's first Fyah Haat Fest.! It's scheduled for this Saturday in the village of Willows Bank, and organizers, Daphne McFadzean and Natalie Palacio say it's like no other fest!

Natalie Palacio, Organizer, Fyah Haat Fest
"Majority of the events and activities that will be taken place on that day are pretty much very, very similar, however, this is the first time any village is having a challenge against other villages, and that is exactly what the Willows Bank fyah haat festival is. The fyah haat component is a challenge; we are challenging all of the other villages. If we are saying that, we have the best cooks on fire hearth. It's a challenge for all the other villagers to say no, oh no, no, no, we have the best cooks, and so basically that is what sets it apart from all of the other activities and other festivals that maybe from that area."

Jim McFadzean
"It's a first time event; you are hoping that it is going to revive interest in the use of the fire hearth?"

Daphne McFadzean, Organizer, Fyah Haat Fest
"Yes, and actually on that day we have fire hearth which will be on sale, we have Rodla Construction. They are making the fire hearths for us, and when the competition is finished the fire hearths will be on sale, so anybody there can go ahead and if they are interested purchase the fire hearth that same day."

Jim McFadzean
"This Saturday event is going to have besides the fyah haat competition, coconut husking competition and other activities which are just as exciting and interesting as the fire hearth?"

Daphne McFadzean, Organizer, Fyah Haat Fest
"Yes, of course, especially the coconut husking because I know a lot of people are now used to coconut oil in the bottle. But a lot of people in Willows Bank still do the husking and the chipping and the grating. So it's something that we want bring back and we want to show people that there are still people out there that who still do these things."

Jim McFadzean
"Is there still interest in the fire hearth way of cooking in Belize?"

Natalie Palacio, Organizer, Fyah Haat Fest
"We believe that the interest has really dwindled and that is one of the main reasons for pushing this festival. We want to highlight because this is one of our dying traditions and we want to bring this to light, so that other people know that although you might have a stove right now, when times get hard and you can't afford fuel there is always an option, and the fire hearth is that option, but a lot of people now because as like I mention is a dying tradition, they don't even know how to use it. And so we are hoping that this festival will allow people to come and learn how to use a fire hearth. So in hard times they have an alternative."

Other activities at the Fyah Haat Fest will include an Anansi Story Telling competition, Volley Ball, and tug and war competitions.


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