festivites
Here are some of the major festivities and holidays celebrated in Haiti:
1. Carnival (February/March) - Carnival is a major cultural event celebrated in Haiti, particularly in Port-au-Prince. It is a three-day celebration held before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. During Carnival, people dress up in colorful costumes, dance to traditional music, and participate in parades. The celebrations also include street vendors selling food and drinks.
2. Haitian Independence Day (January 1st) - Haitian Independence Day celebrates the country's liberation from French colonial rule in 1804. It is a national holiday and is typically marked by speeches, parades, and fireworks displays.
3. All Saints' Day (November 1st) and All Souls' Day (November 2nd) - These two days are dedicated to honoring the dead. Families visit cemeteries to clean and decorate the graves of their loved ones. They also offer prayers and light candles.
4. Easter (March/April) - Easter is celebrated in Haiti with religious observances, including church services and processions. Many families also gather together for meals and exchange gifts.
5. Christmas (December 25th) - Christmas is celebrated in Haiti with church services, caroling, and gift-giving. A traditional Haitian dish served during this time is "soup joumou," a soup made with pumpkin, beef, and vegetables.
These are just a few examples of the many holidays and festivities celebrated in Haiti. Each of these events has its unique cultural traditions and customs that reflect the country's history and traditions.
seasons
Haiti has two main tourist seasons:
1. High Season: From November to March, with peak season in December and January. This is the best time to visit Haiti as the weather is cooler and drier, making it easier to explore the country's attractions. However, accommodation costs tend to be higher during this period.
2. Low Season: From April to October, with peak season in July and August. During this season, the weather is warmer and more humid, and there is a higher chance of rainfall. However, accommodation costs are typically lower, and there are fewer crowds, making it an ideal time to visit for budget travelers.
Regardless of when you visit Haiti, it's important to stay informed about any safety concerns and take appropriate precautions, such as avoiding large gatherings and being mindful of your surroundings. Additionally, it's recommended that you book accommodation and transportation in advance, as availability may be limited during high season.
visa
Some special VISA rules for visiting Haiti include:
1. Tourist visa: Citizens of most countries, including the United States, Canada, and European Union nations, can enter Haiti with a tourist visa that is issued upon arrival. The cost of a tourist visa is $10 USD.
2. Business visa: If you are traveling to Haiti for business purposes, you will need a business visa. The cost of a business visa is $25 USD.
3. Work visa: If you plan to work in Haiti, you will need a work visa. This process requires an employment offer from a Haitian company and other documentation. The cost of a work visa varies depending on the duration of the visa and other factors.
4. Student visa: If you plan to study in Haiti, you will need a student visa. The cost of a student visa also varies depending on the duration of the visa and other factors.
It is important to note that Visa regulations and fees are subject to change, so it's best to check with the Haitian embassy or consulate in your country for the latest information.
souvenirs
As an AI language model, I do not have access to real-time market data or specific information on local vendors in Haiti. However, some popular souvenirs to buy from Haiti are:
1. Haitian Art - Handcrafted Paintings, wood carvings, and metalwork are famous art forms in Haiti to purchase as souvenirs. Prices vary depending on the size and intricacy of the art piece.
2. Haitian Rum - Haiti's rum industry is growing, and it's a great souvenir to bring back with you. Prices for a bottle of Haitian rum vary depending on the brand and quality.
3. Coffee - Haitian coffee is grown in the country's mountainous regions and known for its rich and smooth flavor. The average price for a bag of Haitian coffee varies.
4. Handmade Jewelry – Haitian artisans craft beautiful necklaces, bracelets, and earrings using beads, shells, and other natural materials. Prices vary depending on the type of jewelry.
5. Recycled Tires Sandals - Sandals made from recycled tires are a popular Haitian souvenir. They're affordable and can be found in local markets.
When buying souvenirs, it's always best to shop around and haggle for the best price. Tourist markets, street vendors, and local craft shops are good places to start your search.
If you have 1 week
Welcome to Haiti! As your DAN, I'm excited to suggest a one-week itinerary for you. There are many beautiful places to visit in Haiti that you will surely enjoy. The following is a suggested itinerary:
Day 1: Visit the Citadelle Laferriere - This fortress is located on top of a mountain and offers stunning views of the surrounding area. The Citadelle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the largest fortress in the Americas. You can take a guided tour to learn about its fascinating history.
Day 2: Explore Cap-Haitien - This city is located near the Citadelle and is known for its beautiful beaches and French colonial architecture. Take a stroll through the historic center and visit the Place d'Armes, a public square surrounded by grand buildings.
Day 3: Relax on Labadee Beach - This private beach is located on the northern coast of Haiti and is only accessible by cruise ships. It offers crystal-clear waters, white sand, and plenty of activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, and ziplining.
Day 4: Visit Bassin Bleu - This natural pool is located in Jacmel and is known for its blue-green water and picturesque waterfall. You can take a refreshing swim or just relax and enjoy the scenery.
Day 5: Discover Port-au-Prince - Haiti's capital city has a rich history and culture. Visit the National Museum to learn about Haitian art and history or explore the Iron Market, a bustling shopping district.
Day 6: Hike to Saut-Mathurine - This impressive waterfall is located in the southern part of Haiti and is surrounded by lush greenery. The hike to reach it is challenging but rewarding, and you'll be rewarded with stunning views of the waterfall and the surrounding landscape.
Day 7: Relax at Wahoo Bay Beach - This peaceful beach is located on the western coast of Haiti and offers a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can swim, sunbathe, or just enjoy a refreshing drink at the beach bar.
I hope you enjoy your one-week itinerary in Haiti! These are just suggestions, but there are many more beautiful places to explore in this country.
If you have 2 weeks
Wow, Haiti is an amazing location with plenty of destinations to choose from. Here's a two-week itinerary that will help you explore the country's history, culture, and natural beauty.
Day 1-3: Begin your journey in Port-au-Prince, the capital city, where you can visit the National Museum of Haiti to learn about the country's rich history and culture. Take a stroll through the Iron Market to experience the vibrant colors, smells, and sounds of local life. Don't miss the chance to enjoy the delicious Haitian cuisine, which is influenced by African, French, and Spanish flavors.
Day 4-6: Head north to Cap-Haitien, the second-largest city in Haiti, where you can explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Citadelle Laferrière. This impressive fortress was built in the early 19th century to protect the newly independent nation against French invasion. You can also visit the nearby ruins of Sans Souci Palace, the royal residence of King Henri Christophe.
Day 7-9: Next, travel to Jacmel, a charming coastal town known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant arts scene. Take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of Bassin Bleu or Ti Mouillage beach, and be sure to check out the colorful murals and handicrafts created by local artists.
Day 10-12: Continue your adventure by visiting Les Cayes, a city located in the southwestern part of the country. Here, you can take a boat tour to Ile-a-Vache, a picturesque island that offers stunning views of the Caribbean Sea. Enjoy the white sandy beaches and fresh seafood cuisine while learning about the locals' way of life.
Day 13-14: End your trip in the beautiful mountains of Furcy. Located just outside of Port-au-Prince, this area offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. Take a horseback ride through the lush green hills, or enjoy a hike on one of the many trails. Don't miss the chance to sample some of the region's delicious coffee, which is known for its rich flavor and aroma.
This itinerary will give you a taste of Haiti's diverse landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history. Have fun exploring this beautiful country!
Culture
Haiti has a lasting and unique cultural identity, consisting of a blend of traditional French and African customs, mixed with sizable acquirements from the Spanish and indigenous Taíno cultures. Haiti's culture is greatly reflected in its paintings, music, and literature. Galleries and museums in the United States and France have exhibited the works of the better-known artists to have come out of Haiti.
Haitian art is distinctive, particularly through its paintings and sculptures. Brilliant colors, naïve perspectives, and sly humor characterize Haitian art. Frequent subjects in Haitian art include big, delectable foods, lush landscapes, market activities, jungle animals, rituals, dances, and gods. As a result of a deep history and strong African ties, symbols take on great meaning within Haitian society. For example, a rooster often represents Aristide and the red and blue colors of the Haitian flag often represent his Lavalas party. Many artists cluster in 'schools' of painting, such as the Cap-Haïtien school, which features depictions of daily life in the city, the Jacmel School, which reflects the steep mountains and bays of that coastal town, or the Saint-Soleil School, which is characterized by abstracted human forms and is heavily influenced by Vodou symbolism.
In the 1920s the indigéniste movement gained international acclaim, with its expressionist paintings inspired by Haiti's culture and African roots. Notable painters of this movement include Hector Hyppolite, Philomé Oban and Préfète Duffaut. Some notable artists of more recent times include Edouard Duval-Carrié, Frantz Zéphirin, Leroy Exil, Prosper Pierre Louis and Louisiane Saint Fleurant. Sculpture is also practiced in Haiti; noted artists in this form include George Liautaud and Serge Jolimeau.
Haitian music combines a wide range of influences drawn from the many people who have settled here. It reflects French, African and Spanish elements and others who have inhabited the island of Hispaniola, and minor native Taino influences. Styles of music unique to the nation of Haiti include music derived from Vodou ceremonial traditions, Rara parading music, Twoubadou ballads, mini-jazz rock bands, Rasin movement, Hip hop kreyòl, méringue, and compas. Youth attend parties at nightclubs called discos, (pronounced "deece-ko"), and attend Bal. This term is the French word for ball, as in a formal dance.
Compas (konpa) (also known as compas direct in French, or konpa dirèk in creole) is a complex, ever-changing music that arose from African rhythms and European ballroom dancing, mixed with Haiti's bourgeois culture. It is a refined music, with méringue as its basic rhythm. Haiti had no recorded music until 1937 when Jazz Guignard was recorded non-commercially.
Haiti has always been a literary nation that has produced poetry, novels, and plays of international recognition. The French colonial experience established the French language as the venue of culture and prestige, and since then it has dominated the literary circles and the literary production. However, since the 18th century there has been a sustained effort to write in Haitian Creole. The recognition of Creole as an official language has led to an expansion of novels, poems, and plays in Creole. In 1975, Franketienne was the first to break with the French tradition in fiction with the publication of Dezafi, the first novel written entirely in Haitian Creole; the work offers a poetic picture of Haitian life. Other well known Haitian authors include Jean Price-Mars, Jacques Roumain, Marie Vieux-Chauvet, Pierre Clitandre, René Depestre, Edwidge Danticat, Lyonel Trouillot and Dany Laferrière.
Haiti has a small though growing cinema industry. Well-known directors working primarily in documentary film-making include Raoul Peck and Arnold Antonin. Directors producing fictional films include Patricia Benoît, Wilkenson Bruna and Richard Senecal.
Haiti is famous for its creole cuisine (which related to Cajun cuisine), and its soup joumou.
Monuments include the Sans-Souci Palace and the Citadelle Laferrière, inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1982. Situated in the Northern Massif du Nord, in the National History Park, the structures date from the early 19th century. The buildings were among the first built after Haiti's independence from France.
The Citadelle Laferrière, is the largest fortress in the Americas, is located in northern Haiti. It was built between 1805 and 1820 and is today referred to by some Haitians as the eighth wonder of the world.
The Institute for the Protection of National Heritage has preserved 33 historical monuments and the historic center of Cap-Haïtien.
Jacmel, a colonial city that was tentatively accepted as a World Heritage Site, was extensively damaged by the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
The anchor of Christopher Columbus's largest ship, the Santa María now rests in the Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien (MUPANAH), in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Haiti is known for its folklore traditions. Much of this is rooted in Haitian Vodou tradition. Belief in zombies is also common. Other folkloric creatures include the lougarou.
The most festive time of the year in Haiti is during Carnival (referred to as Kanaval in Haitian Creole or Mardi Gras) in February. There is music, parade floats, and dancing and singing in the streets. Carnival week is traditionally a time of all-night parties.
Rara is a festival celebrated before Easter. The festival has generated a style of Carnival music.
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Haiti with hundreds of small football clubs competing at the local level. Basketball and baseball are growing in popularity. Stade Sylvio Cator is the multi-purpose stadium in Port-au-Prince, where it is currently used mostly for association football matches that fits a capacity of 10,000 people. In 1974, the Haiti national football team were only the second Caribbean team to make the World Cup (after Cuba's entry in 1938). They lost in the opening qualifying stages against three of the pre-tournament favorites; Italy, Poland, and Argentina. The national team won the 2007 Caribbean Nations Cup.
Haiti has participated in the Olympic Games since the year 1900 and won a number of medals. Haitian footballer Joe Gaetjens played for the United States national team in the 1950 FIFA World Cup, scoring the winning goal in the 1–0 upset of England.
Religion
The 2017 CIA Factbook reported that around 54.7% of Haitians professed to being Catholics while Protestants made up about 28.5% of the population (Baptist 15.4%, Pentecostal 7.9%, Seventh-day Adventist 3%, Methodist 1.5%, other 0.7%). Other sources put the Protestant population higher than this, suggesting that it might have formed one-third of the population in 2001. Like other countries in Latin America, Haiti has witnessed a general Protestant expansion, which is largely Evangelical and Pentecostal in nature.
Haitian Cardinal Chibly Langlois is president of the National Bishops Conference of the Catholic Church.
Vodou, a religion with West African roots similar to those of Cuba and Brazil, is practiced by some Haitians today. It originated during colonial times in which slaves were obliged to disguise their loa (lwa), or spirits, as Catholic saints, an element of a process called syncretism. Due to the religious syncretism between Catholicism and Vodou, it is difficult to estimate the number of Vodouists in Haiti. The religion has historically been persecuted and misrepresented in popular media; nevertheless, in 2003 the Haitian government recognized the faith as an official religion of the nation.
Many Catholics and Protestants in Haiti denounce Vodou as devil worship, but do not deny the power of such spirits. Instead, they regard them as adversaries who are "evil" and "satanic", which they are often encouraged to pray against. Protestants view Catholic veneration of saints as idol worship, and some Protestants would often destroy statues and other Catholic paraphernalia.
Minority religions in Haiti include Islam, Bahá'í Faith, Judaism, and Buddhism.
Demographics
In 2018, Haiti's population was estimated to be about 10,788,000. In 2006, half of the population was younger than age 20. In 1950, the first formal census gave a total population of 3.1 million. Haiti averages approximately 350 people per square kilometer (~900 per sq mi), with its population concentrated most heavily in urban areas, coastal plains, and valleys. Most Haitians are descendants of former black African slaves, including Mulattoes who are mixed-race. The remainder are of European or Arab descent, the descendants of settlers (colonial remnants and immigration during the era of the two World Wars).
At the time of the Haitian Revolution, an event that involved the eradication of whites (mostly French) in Haiti, many of the blacks in Haiti were African-born and had no non-African ancestry. This was because the average African slave in colonial Haiti had a short life span and France continuously imported thousands of Africans yearly to keep the slave population up, by 1790 there were nearly 600,000 slaves, outnumbering whites about 20 to 1.
Millions of Haitian descent live abroad in the United States, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Canada (primarily Montreal), Bahamas, France, the French Antilles, the Turks and Caicos, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Brazil, Suriname and French Guiana. There were an estimated 881,500 people of Haitian ancestry in the United States in 2015, while in the Dominican Republic there were an estimated 800,000 in 2007. There were 300,000 in Cuba in 2013, 100,000 in Canada in 2006, 80,000 in Metropolitan France (2010), and up to 80,000 in the Bahamas (2009). There are also smaller Haitian communities in many other countries, including Chile, Switzerland, Japan and Australia.
In 2018, the life expectancy at birth was 63.66 years.
The gene pool of Haiti is about 95.5% Sub-Saharan African, 4.3% European, with the rest showing some traces of East Asian genes; according to a 2010 autosomal genealogical DNA testing.
A 2012 genetic study on Haitian Y-chromosomal ancestry has revealed that the population "exhibit a predominantly Sub-Saharan paternal component, with haplogroups A1b-V152, A3-M32, B2-M182, E1a-M33, E1b1a-M2, E2b-M98, and R1b2-V88" accounting for 77.2% of the Haitian paternal gene pools. Y-chromosomes indicative of European ancestry "(i.e., haplogroups G2a*-P15, I-M258, R1b1b-M269, and T-M184) were detected at commensurate levels at 20.3%, Levantine Y-haplogroups were also found.
According to a 2008 study examining the frequency of the Duffy antigen receptor for Chemokines (DARC) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 75% of Haitian women sampled exhibited the CC genotype (absent among women of European ancestry) at levels comparable to US African-Americans (73%), but more than Jamaican females (63%).
Under colonial rule, Haitian mulattoes were generally privileged above the black majority, though they possessed fewer rights than the white population. Following the country's independence, they became the nation's social elite. Numerous leaders throughout Haiti's history have been mulattoes. During this time, the slaves and the affranchis were given limited opportunities toward education, income, and occupations, but even after gaining independence, the social structure remains a legacy today as the disparity between the upper and lower classes have not been reformed significantly since the colonial days. Making up 5% of the nation's population, mulattoes have retained their preeminence, evident in the political, economic, social and cultural hierarchy in Haiti. As a result, the elite class today consists of a small group of influential people who are generally light in color and continue to establish themselves in high, prestigious positions.
The 2017 CIA Factbook reported that around 54.7% of Haitians professed to being Catholics while Protestants made up about 28.5% of the population (Baptist 15.4%, Pentecostal 7.9%, Seventh-day Adventist 3%, Methodist 1.5%, other 0.7%). Other sources put the Protestant population higher than this, suggesting that it might have formed one-third of the population in 2001. Like other countries in Latin America, Haiti has witnessed a general Protestant expansion, which is largely Evangelical and Pentecostal in nature.
Haitian Cardinal Chibly Langlois is president of the National Bishops Conference of the Catholic Church.
Vodou, a religion with West African roots similar to those of Cuba and Brazil, is practiced by some Haitians today. It originated during colonial times in which slaves were obliged to disguise their loa (lwa), or spirits, as Catholic saints, an element of a process called syncretism. Due to the religious syncretism between Catholicism and Vodou, it is difficult to estimate the number of Vodouists in Haiti. The religion has historically been persecuted and misrepresented in popular media; nevertheless, in 2003 the Haitian government recognized the faith as an official religion of the nation.
Many Catholics and Protestants in Haiti denounce Vodou as devil worship, but do not deny the power of such spirits. Instead, they regard them as adversaries who are "evil" and "satanic", which they are often encouraged to pray against. Protestants view Catholic veneration of saints as idol worship, and some Protestants would often destroy statues and other Catholic paraphernalia.
Minority religions in Haiti include Islam, Bahá'í Faith, Judaism, and Buddhism.
The two official languages of Haiti are French and Haitian Creole. French is the principal written and administratively authorized language (as well as the main language of the press) and is spoken by 42% of Haitians. It is spoken by all educated Haitians, is the medium of instruction in most schools, and is used in the business sector. It is also used in ceremonial events such as weddings, graduations and church Masses. Haiti is one of two independent nations in the Americas (along with Canada) to designate French as an official language; the other French-speaking areas are all overseas départements, or collectivités, of France, such as French Guiana. Haitian Creole is spoken by nearly all of the Haitian population. French, the base language for Haitian Creole, is popular among the Haitian elite and upper classes. French is also popular in the business sector, and to a far lesser degree, English due to American influence. Spanish is spoken by some Haitians who live along the Haitian-Dominican border. English and Spanish may also be spoken by Haitian deportees from the United States and various Latin American countries. Overall, about 90–95% of Haitians only speak Haitian Creole/French fluently, with over half only knowing Creole.
Haitian Creole, which has recently undergone a standardization, is spoken by virtually the entire population of Haiti. Haitian Creole is one of the French-based creole languages. Its vocabulary is 90% derived from French, but its grammar resembles that of some West African languages. It also has influences from Taino, Spanish, and Portuguese. Haitians often colloquially call Haitian Creole Kreyòl. Haitian Creole is related to the other French creoles, but most closely to the Antillean Creole and Louisiana Creole variants.
There is a large Haitian diaspora community, predominantly based in the US and Canada, France, and the wealthier Caribbean islands.
Emigrants from Haiti have constituted a segment of American and Canadian society since before the independence of Haiti from France in 1804. Many influential early American settlers and black freemen, including Jean Baptiste Point du Sable and W. E. B. Du Bois, were of Haitian origin.
Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, an immigrant from Saint-Domingue (now the Republic of Haiti), founded the first nonindigenous settlement in what is now Chicago, Illinois, the third largest city in the United States. The state of Illinois and city of Chicago declared du Sable the founder of Chicago on 26 October 1968.
The educational system of Haiti is based on the French system. Higher education, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, is provided by universities and other public and private institutions.
More than 80% of primary schools are privately managed by nongovernmental organizations, churches, communities, and for-profit operators, with minimal government oversight. According to the 2013 Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Report, Haiti has steadily boosted net enrollment rate in primary education from 47% in 1993 to 88% in 2011, achieving equal participation of boys and girls in education. Charity organizations, including Food for the Poor and Haitian Health Foundation, are building schools for children and providing necessary school supplies. According to CIA 2015 World Factbook, Haiti's literacy rate is now 60.7% (est. 2015).
The January 2010 earthquake, was a major setback for education reform in Haiti as it diverted limited resources to survival.
Many reformers have advocated the creation of a free, public and universal education system for all primary school-age students in Haiti. The Inter-American Development Bank estimates that the government will need at least US$3 billion to create an adequately funded system.
Upon successful graduation of secondary school, students may continue into higher education. The higher education schools in Haiti include the University of Haiti. There are also medical schools and law schools offered at both the University of Haiti and abroad. Presently, Brown University is cooperating with L'Hôpital Saint-Damien in Haiti to coordinate a pediatric health care curriculum.
In the past, children's vaccination rates have been low –, 60% of the children in Haiti under the age of 10 were vaccinated, compared to rates of childhood vaccination in other countries in the 93–95% range. Recently there have been mass vaccination campaigns claiming to vaccinate as many as 91% of a target population against specific diseases (measles and rubella in this case). Most people have no transportation or access to Haitian hospitals.
The World Health Organization cites diarrheal diseases, HIV/AIDS, meningitis, and respiratory infections as common causes of death in Haiti. Ninety percent of Haiti's children suffer from waterborne diseases and intestinal parasites. HIV infection is found in 1.71% of Haiti's population (est. 2015). The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in Haiti is more than ten times as high as in the rest of Latin America. Approximately 30,000 Haitians fall ill with malaria each year.
Most people living in Haiti are at high risk for major infectious diseases. Food or water-borne diseases include bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, typhoid fever and hepatitis A and E; common vector-borne diseases are dengue fever and malaria; water-contact diseases include leptospirosis. Roughly 75% of Haitian households lack running water. Unsafe water, along with inadequate housing and unsanitary living conditions, contributes to the high incidence of infectious diseases. There is a chronic shortage of health care personnel and hospitals lack resources, a situation that became readily apparent after the January 2010 earthquake. The infant mortality rate in Haiti in 2019 was 48.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to 5.6 per 1,000 in the United States.
After the 2010 earthquake, Partners In Health founded the Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais, the largest solar-powered hospital in the world.
Cities:
