This month our spotlight turns to the beautiful Caribbean island of Haiti. ‘Ayiti’ means "land of the mountains” in Taíno which is the Indigenous, or native, language of Haiti. When France colonized the island in 1697, they named it Saint Domingue. When the island gained its independence in 1804, the name was again changed back to the original Taíno. 

Haiti is located on the captivating Carribbean island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Hispaniola is part of the Greater Antilles, a grouping of the larger islands in the Caribbean Sea, along with Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Port-au-Prince is Haiti’s bustling capital. 

True to its name, Haiti is the most mountainous country in the Caribbean. A full 75% of its territory is mountainous! There are five main mountain ranges: Masjid du Nord, Montagnes Noires, Massif de la Hotte, Massif de la Selle, and Chain de Mateaux. The country’s highest peak, Pic la Selle, is part of the Massif de la Selle range. 

In addition to its luscious mountains, Haiti has a breathtaking coastline with pristine turquoise water and white sand beaches. It is here you will also find the Caribbean’s deepest cave, Grotte Marie Jeanne. With such dramatic features of geology it is no surprise to find that the island sits at the edge of a tectonic plate. This is also the reason behind the country's long history of devastating earthquakes. In 2010 and 2021, Haiti was hit with two massive earthquakes that have had long lasting consequences on the country and its people.

The two official languages of Haiti are French and Haitian Creole. Haiti and Canada are the only countries in the Americas where French is an official language. Haitian Creole, which is a mixture of French and African languages, is spoken by the majority of the population. It is also the most spoken creole language in the world. Some common greetings are bonjou (hello!), sak pase (how are you?) and onè respè (cheers!). Haitians love the art of storytelling and “Krik-Krak”. Krik-krak is woven into the fabric of Haitian life and contributes to the dynamism of Creole language and culture.

Haiti was the first country in the Western Hemisphere to abolish slavery. Inspired by the French Revolution of 1789, Francois-Dominique Toussaint Louverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines led enslaved Africans to revolt against French colonists during the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804).  Jean-Jacques Dessalines became Haiti’s first leader after independence and in 1804, Haiti became the world’s first Black Republic. Jean-Jacques Dessalines also designed Haiti’s original flag, with blue representing Haiti’s African residents while the red represents those of mixed European, African and Indigenous descent.

Vodou (or voudou or vodon) has roots in the religious traditions of West and Central Africa, and in Roman Catholicism. Vodou means “spirit,” and is a creole word. In April 2003, was officially recognised as a religion in Haiti, becoming the only country in the world to do so. Voudou is an integral part of Haitian culture. 

Haiti is a very vibrant and artistic country. Jacmel is nicknamed Haiti’s ‘artistic city’ and is known for its colorful buildings, cultural events and bustling art scene. 

 

Another colorful site around the island are the famous Tap-tap buses. Tap-taps are brightly colored buses or trucks used as shared taxi services. They can be found all around the island, especially in Port-au-Prince. They are called 'taptap' due to the sound passengers make by tapping coins on the bus to let the driver know when they want to get on or off. 

Carnival is part of the color of life in Haiti. It’s not just a festival, but a celebration with deep cultural significance. During Carnival, the whole country comes alive with color and music. 

Did you know that Haiti has a national dish that is recognized as a UNESCO “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” ‘Soup Joumou’ is not your everyday soup. Soup Joumou is made of ‘giraumont’ (turban squash), other vegetables, tubers, and meat. This soup is traditionally served during New Year’s Day but can be enjoyed all year round. Some Haitian staples are cabbage, mango, guava and spicy meat dishes, such as ‘griot’. Spicy food is a fan favorite with Haitians. 

While in the United States, we celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month in June, due to the large Haitian diaspora in cities like New York City, Boston and Miami, Haitian Heritage Month is celebrated during the month of May.

You can find out more about Haiti at visithaiti.com