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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 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

  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". Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
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