Haiti: Main Holidays

Official Holidays - (Same date every Year)
January 1 Jour de l'Indépendance; Jour De l'An - Independence Day; New Year's Day
January 2 Jour Des Aieux - National Day of the forefathers
May 1 Fête de l'Agriculture et du travail - Agriculture and Labor Day
May 18 Jour du Drapeau - Flag Day
October 17 Mort de Dessalines - Anniversary of Dessalines's death
November 1 La Toussaint - All Saints' Day
November 2 Jour des Morts - Day of the Dead
November 18 Bataille de Vertières; Jour Des Forces Armées - Battle of Vertières' Day* also used to be Armed Forces Day
December 25 Jour de Noel - Christmas
Other Legal, Religious and Traditional Holidays for 2003
March 2-4 Carnaval - Annually from the Sunday through the Tuesday (Mardi Gras) preceding Ash Wednesday
March 5 Mercredi Des Cendres - Ash Wednesday
April 18 Vendredi Saint - Good Friday
April 20 Dimanche de Pâques - Easter Sunday
May 25 Fêtes des Mères - Haitian Mother's Day the last Sunday in May
June 19 Fête Dieu - Corpus Christi. The Thursday following Trinity Sunday
August 15 Assumption - Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

*Vertières is the site of the last battle for Haitian Independence versus the French

Haiti: Main Events in History
Events
December 5, 1492 Columbus arrives at the Taino island of Hayti
August 14, 1791 Ceremony of Bois Caiman led by Bouckman
August 21, 1791 1st General revolt of slaves in the colony
April 7, 1803 Toussaint dies in the Fort de Joux in the Jura mountains in France
May 18, 1803 Dessalines and Petion meet at Arcahaie, in the west to create the first flag
November 18, 1803 Bataille of Vertières; last great battle against the French
January 1, 1804 Haiti's Independence was proclaimed. The island was renamed under its Taino name of Haiti
October 17, 1806 Dessalines was assassinated at Pont Rouge
July 27, 1915 US marines land in Port-au-prince starting the American occupation that would last until 1934
September 22, 1957 François Duvalier is elected president. In 1961, he made himself President-for-life
April 22, 1971 Jean-Claude Duvalier becomes president-for-life after his father's death
February 7, 1986 The Duvalier Dynasty ends
February 7, 1991 Aristide becomes the first president elected by a popular vote

(source: http://www.discoverhaiti.com/history_holidays.htm)

Do you remember? Eske ou sonje? Tu t'en souviens?

Where were you on January 12, 2010?
Ki kote-w te ye jou ki te 12 janvye 2010 la?
Ou étiez-vous le 12 janvier 2010?

Your thoughts about the earthquake in Haiti

January 12, 2010 a day that we will never forget! This day changed our perspectives on life ( at least some of us). What we can all agree on is that it pushes back at least 50 years or more. I have written a lot about it, specially the way the aid is administered and I also have some testimonies and many pictures.

Haitians are very resilient and will get through this hard time but it will take time and effort and healing and even a change in the mentality and this is before even receiving help form other country. We are the ones (Haitians) who can change the situation in our own country we surely need help but no amount of money will change our mentality, attitude or belief for good if we are not willing to or unite ourselves for the greater benefits of our beloved country.

I went myself to help as an interpreter and saw first hand what was going on and I was there a month ago and can still see the impacts.

No matter where you are from, if you have a wish, a word of wisdom or encouragement, a poem, a prayer or if you have participated in any rescue mission directly or indirectly, please let us know what you would like to say either to the world or the Haitian people about this event.

God bless!