Public holidays in Haiti
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The following are public holidays in Haiti.[1] 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.[2]
| Date | English name | Local name (in French) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day and Independence Day | Nouvel an / Jour de l'an / Premier de l'a et Jour de l'Indépendance | Commemorates the day in 1804 when Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared independence and restored the country's native name. |
| 2 January | Ancestry Day | Jour des Aieux | Commemorates ancestors and other loved ones who have died fighting for freedom. |
| 6 January | Epiphany | Le Jour des Rois | Celebrates the Three Wise Men's visit to see the newborn Christ. |
| 12 January | Remembrance Day | Jour De Remembrance | Celebrates the victims of the January 2010 earthquakes. |
| moveable | Carnival/Mardi Gras | Carnaval/Mardi Gras | |
| 1 May | Labour and Agriculture Day | Fête du Travail / Fête des Travailleurs | International holiday |
| 18 May | Haitian Flag Day and Universities Day | Jour du Drapeau et de l'Université | Celebrates its educational system and commemorates the creation of the flag at the 1803 Arcahaye Conference. |
| 15 August | Assumption of Mary | L'Assomption de Marie | Roman Catholic holiday |
| 17 October | Dessalines Day[3] | Anniversaire de la mort de Dessalines | Commemorates the death of Jean-Jacques Dessalines. |
| 1 November | All Saints Day | La Toussaint | Roman Catholic holiday; commemorates the sainthood. |
| 2 November | All Souls' Day | Jour des Morts | Roman Catholic holiday; commemorates the faithful departed. |
| 18 November | Battle of Vertières Day | Vertières | Commemorates the victory over the French in the Battle of Vertières in the year 1803.[4] |
| 5 December | Discovery Day | Découverte d'Haïti | Commemorates Christopher Columbus' landing on Hispaniola in 1492. |
| 25 December | Christmas | Noël | Celebrates the nativity of Jesus. |
In addition, the following Christian holidays are celebrated; their dates vary according to the date of Easter each year.
| Date | Name | Local name (in French) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| moveable | Ash Wednesday | Mercredi Des Cendres | |
| moveable | Maundy Thursday | Jeudi saint | |
| moveable | Good Friday | Vendredi saint | |
| moveable | Easter Sunday | Pâques | |
| moveable | Ascension Day | Ascension | Thursday, 40th day after Easter Sunday |
| moveable | Corpus Christi | Fête-Dieu |
References
- ^ "Republic of Haiti: National Holidays". United Haitians Home Page. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ ""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.
- ^ Gaffield, Julia (16 October 2015). "Julia Gaffield: Dessalines Day, October 17". University of North Carolina Press. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ "Origins of the Haitian Flag". Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
