As the
above picture of the Haiti Flag indicates the background is
bi-color - Red and Blue
The Haiti Flag is described as
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered
white rectangle bearing the coat of arms
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Haiti flag represent the
following:
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Blue -
vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice
The
basic style shown in the picture of the Haiti flag is
described as Border Emblem -reflecting the
central design of the flag pattern
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Haiti flag is described as
3:5
The
emblem on the Haiti flag pictures the coat of
arms
which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons
above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union
Makes Strength)
The Meaning
& History of the Haiti Flag - The flag is believed to have
been first created during the country's revolution against the
French. The rebels removed the white stripe from the French
tricolor and the new creation as their flag
The flag of Haiti
was adopted on February 25, 1986
Flag
Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description
uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear
with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called
Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a
Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the
Flag Quiz
Flag History &
Evolution:
The idea of
flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and
the battlefield
Shields were
painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors
needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying
a pole was adopted
An emblem
such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the
pole for identification
The emblems
were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats
of Arms were born
These
emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans
were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and
fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of
fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict
rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and
creating a modern flag
Haiti
Flag Etiquette
Haiti Flag etiquette is very strict and is is
essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic Flag
Etiquette applies to all nations, including Haiti as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Haiti
State Flag of Haiti
Military Flag of
Haiti (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of Haiti
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Haiti Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The National flag of
Haiti should never be flown
above another national flag on the same staff as this would
suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or
Nation, over another
The Haiti flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Haiti should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Haiti flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Haiti, when in such
condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display,
should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in
private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Haiti Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Haiti flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Haiti flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Haiti flag to the top, then lowering the
Haiti Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Haiti flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Haiti flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Haiti flag
The Haiti flag
should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a
manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way
The Haiti
flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it,
nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure,
design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The
Haiti flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Haiti
Flag usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation
in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts and
information regarding Haiti Flag Etiquette has provided a useful
resource
Haiti
Location:
Caribbean, western one-third of the
island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic
Land Size of Haiti
: 27,560 sq km
Climate / Weather
of Haiti : tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off
trade winds
Population of Haiti
: 7,656,166
Capital City of
Haiti : Port-au-Prince
GDP of Haiti :
$12.18 billion (2003 est.)
Main Industries :
sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, light assembly
industries based on imported parts
The Caribs
and the Arawaks were tropical forest people who probably
originated in South America and were related the people found
anywhere from Panama to Brazil
Not
discovered by Europeans until 1492 when Christopher Columbus
first landed in the New World
The Arawaks were progressively wiped out by the
after-effects of the Spanish conquest
1650 -
1800's the use of imported African slave labor
1697 Spain
ceded the western third of the Hispaniola - which was then
called Saint-Domingue - to France
Slaves were
forbidden from practicing Voodoo
1791 August
22 the slaves revolted leading to a war against the French
January 1,
1804 Slaves defeated an army sent by Napoleon Bonaparte
January 1,
1804 Haiti declared independence establishing the world's first
Black republic
1804 all
white people were thrown out of Haiti and many were killed
including Catholic Priests
1957
Francois Duvalier , "Papa Doc" became dictator in 1964
1971
Jean-Claude Duvalier, "Baby Doc" followed his father as dictator
at the age of 19
1986
"Baby Doc" was deposed
1990
Military rule ended and Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected
president
2004
February 29 President Aristide left Haiti
Voodoo
Voodoo is
the dominant religion of Haiti and is an amalgamation of African
spirit religion and Catholicism
The
priesthood of Voodoo contains both men (houngan) and women
(mambo) and their functions include:
Performing
religious ceremonies
Healing
Pacifying
spirits
Telling
the future and reading dreams
Casting
spells (from love spells to death spells)
Creating
potions
The
religious rites of the religion are usually held outside and
everyone participates
Drums are
central to the accompanying music as is dancing
A master
of ceremonies is often present and 'Iwa' often come and take
over a person's body
Nearly
every Voodoo service has animal sacrifice
Voodoo
consists of peaceful Voodoo called Rada and the dangerous
Petro which encompasses Black Magic with death curses and the
making of zombies
"Around the World in 80
minutes!"
A combination of information
regarding a Nation's flag, History, Geography and Current Events
provides an accurate snapshot of the evolution of each country
In just a short period of time this
concise information with specific facts will improve your
overall understanding of the great countries of the World
A useful Educational Resource
accessed from the Index
You can go "Around the World in 80
minutes!"
The
Flag and Nation of Haiti
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Flag and Country of Haiti has
provided a useful educational resource. To improve your
knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the
Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our
interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and
it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the
right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!
