Bagay piti pa chich

This Haitian proverb could be literally translated as "little gifts don't mean stingy".

Haitian people are used to living in community. They know others' names, stories, and family trees. They like to share what they have (food, information, money, pain, joy...). Sharing is one of the Haitian values that is taught from childhood.

Sometimes people have something insignificant in quantity, and they feel the necessity or the willingness to give it or to share it with someone else. To show respect to the receiver and their will to give, they say : "bagay piti pa chich" after handing it to him/her or when the receiver gives thanks after receiving it mostly when it was sent. Or sometimes when the giver calls the receiver to tell him/her that he/she has sent something for him/her.

With this proverb we know that everyone can share what they have - as little as it may be. And we should be humble enough to receive what somebody offers/gives us with all his/her heart.

(Note: It is a shame to say no to the giver when he/she takes pleasure to share the little he/she has, specially for the elders. But we can say no if this could hinder our faith, leadership position, or if we know that the giver has a bad intention).

Bagay piti pa chich.

Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

Proverbs 11:24-25