Jan. 1 isn't just New Year's Day, it's also Haitian Independence Day.
Hundreds of Haitians living in Brooklyn gathered at the Church of Saint Joseph in Prospect Heights for a special Mass to celebrate 210 years since native Haitians declared their independence from France.
Many said that it's important to remember their country's fight for freedom, as well as the work that still has to be done.
Along with attending Mass, the Haitians ate pumpkin soup as a symbol of their freedom because the French wouldn't let them eat soup.