Public holidays in Haiti

The following are public holidays in Haiti. Many Vodou holidays are also celebrated, but are not considered public holidays.

The two most important holidays for Haitian Americans are Haitian Independence Day and Haitian Flag Day.

DateEnglish nameLocal name (in French)Remarks
1 JanuaryNew Year's Day and Independence DayNouvel an / Jour de l'an / Premier de l'a et Jour de l'IndépendanceCommemorates the day in 1804 when Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared independence and restored the country's native name.
2 JanuaryAncestry DayJour des AieuxCommemorates Ancestry and other loved ones who have died fighting for freedom.
1 MayLabour and Agriculture DayFête du Travail / Fête des TravailleursInternational holiday
18 MayFlag Day and Universities DayJour du Drapeau et de l'UniversitéCelebrates its educational system and commemorates the creation of the flag at the 1803 Arcahaye Conference.
14 AugustBois-Caïman DayJour du Bois-CaïmanCommemorates the day in 1791.
15 AugustAssumption of MaryL'Assomption de MarieRoman Catholic holiday
20 SeptemberDessalines DayJour de DessalinesCommemorates the birth of Jean-Jacques Dessalines.
17 OctoberDessalines DayAnniversaire de la mort de DessalinesCommemorates the death of Jean-Jacques Dessalines.
1 NovemberAll Saints' DayLa ToussaintRoman Catholic holiday; commemorates the sainthood.
2 NovemberAll Souls' DayJour des MortsRoman Catholic holiday; commemorates the faithful departed.
18 NovemberBattle of Vertières DayVertièresCommemorates the victory over the French in the Armed Forces Day in the year 1803.
25 DecemberChristmasNoëlCelebrates the nativity of Jesus.

In addition, the following Christian holidays are celebrated; their dates vary according to the date of Easter each year.

DateNameLocal name (in French)Remarks
moveableCarnival MondayLundi Gras
moveableCarnival TuesdayMardi Gras
moveableGood FridayVendredi saint
moveableCorpus ChristiFête-Dieu

References

  1. ↑ "Republic of Haiti: National Holidays". United Haitians Home Page. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  2. ↑ ""Haitian Immigrants" In Multicultural America: An Encyclopedia of the Newest Americans. Edited by Ronald H. Bayor. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood Publishers. Pp. 887–932". Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  3. ↑ Gaffield, Julia (16 October 2015). "Julia Gaffield: Dessalines Day, October 17". University of North Carolina Press. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  4. ↑ "Origins of the Haitian Flag". Retrieved 28 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)