Public holidays in Haiti

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
January 1 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.
January 2 Ancestry Day Jour des Aieux Commemorates ancestors and other loved ones who have died fighting for freedom.
January 6 Epiphany Le Jour des Rois Celebrates the Three Wise Men's visit to see the newborn Christ.
moveable Carnival/Mardi Gras Carnaval/Mardi Gras
May 1 Labour and Agriculture Day Fête du Travail / Fête des Travailleurs International holiday
May 18 Flag 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.
August 15 Assumption of Mary L'Assomption de Marie Roman Catholic holiday
October 17 Anniversary of the death of Dessalines Anniversaire de la mort de Dessalines Commemorates the death of Jean-Jacques Dessalines.
November 1 All Saints Day La Toussaint Roman Catholic holiday; commemorates the sainthood.
November 2 All Souls' Day Jour des Morts Roman Catholic holiday; commemorates the faithful departed.
November 18 Battle of Vertières Day Vertières Commemorates the victory over the French in the Battle of Vertières in the year 1803.[3]
December 5 Discovery Day Découverte d'Haïti Commemorates Christopher Columbus' landing on Hispaniola in 1492.
December 25 Christmas Noël Celebrates the nativity of Jesus.

In addition, the following Christian holidays are celebrated but their dates vary 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 Pâques
moveable Ascension Day Ascension Thursday, 39 days after Easter
moveable Corpus Christi Fête-Dieu

References

  1. ↑ The Holidays of Haiti
  2. ↑ "ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRY "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 2015-09-28.
  3. ↑ "Origins of the Haitian Flag". Retrieved 28 June 2013.


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