For a country’s citizens, the national flag is indisputably a symbol of general pride. They would consider any offense to their flag to be an offense to their country. Beyond being an icon though, a flag’s origin can often say a lot about a nation’s social make-up or history. Haitians feel no different and even reserve a special day to honor it. That day is May 18th.
In Haiti, Flag Day is a major national holiday celebrated with great fanfare on the grounds of the national palace. Flag Day is also observed by Haitians in the Diaspora. In The United States for example, teenagers whether in High School give homage to the red and blue by carrying it around with them or on their persona for at least a week. Haiti’s flag’s origin is tightly linked to a history of struggle for freedom.
In the early days of revolt in St. Domingue, the slaves did not have a flag. However, they did notice that their former masters were using the French Flag. From 1791 to about 1793, the revolt became more widespread and gave rise to a number of large groups still fighting independently. In those times, each main leader would use any piece of cloth as a flag. Slowly the slave movement found some synergy and came to follow the leadership one main person: Toussaint Louverture. Realizing that you cannot fight three enemies at the same time, Toussaint and the army of revolted slaves fought successively for the Spanish against the French (1793-1794), for the French against Spain and England (1794-1802) and ultimately against France. As such, he carried the color of whichever European power he was fighting for. He later realized that it was silly to use the same flag as the enemies. He then invented his own flag, which was a white piece of cloth with a Negro head to represent the blacks.
Independence day in Haiti is an important holiday. We celebrate it on January 1, the same day as New Year's Day.
On January 1, 1804, Haiti, located in the West Indies, made history by being the first Black Country to gain its independence. Haiti's original name was "Ayiti, Quisqueya, Bohio." It was a name given by the original inhabitants who lived there. After Christopher Columbus discovered the Island in 1492, he named it "Hispaniola," meaning "Little Spain," in honor of the Spanish crown. The name changed to "Haiti" meaning mountainous land. It was a name given by the French settlers in the western area.
Toussaint L'Ouverture who is one of the greatest heroes, led his country to victory over French general Le Clerc in a revolution of the slaves. It wasn't only Toussaint L'Ouverture that helped with the victory. There were many other generals, too.
Francois Capois was the leader of the "Bataille de vertiere." Even though they shot his hat off his head, he said, "En avant , En avant."
Many of the generals died by fighting for the independence, Most of them didn't see the first independance day.They were brave and zealous to serve their country and they hoped that one day they would be free.
When the French were in control, they had a law said that they were the only ones who could eat soup because they were in the upper class. The French used to have a custom that only they could eat soup on New Year's Day. Blacks weren't allowed.
Eventually when Haiti proclamed its independence, all Haitians started to eat soup.It was a way to demonstrate that everyone was equal. Since then we keep this custom of eating soup on Independence Day. The soup was a symbol that the French were no longer in control. People didn't like to be treated like slaves and to be told what they could and couldn't do. Cooking and eating the soup on New Year's Day is a way to celebrate freedom.
