The Republic of Haiti is the land of gorgeous beaches, scenic mountain ranges, picturesque panorama, and a fabulous atmosphere to breathe in. Apart from the landscape, it boasts an interesting and very long history as well as rich cultures and traditions, which are an intriguing blend of Taino, African and European. So, Whether you are intrigued to know the amazing facts about Haiti or planning to make a trip to explore the awe-inspiring beauty of Haiti. Here I have put together some interesting facts about Haiti, which should be enough to convince you.
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Haiti means the land of the mountains
Haiti is a land of Taino people, and even before the arrival of Columbus, Taino people were living here. Taino named this island Ayiti, which means “land of the mountains”. Haiti is praised all over the world as the most mountainous nation in the Caribbean. When the French colonizers first headed to this land in 1697, they called it Saint Domingue. However, when the island was emancipated in 1804, they changed their colonial name to its old name Haiti.
Haiti is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site
La Citadella La Ferrieere is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Haiti, built on a mountain in the Nord region. Most travelers to Haiti start their adventurous journey from this site, and it also boasts a breathtaking view of scenic mountains and landscapes. La Citadella La Ferriere is a 19th-century fortress, built by tens of thousands of Haitian slaves as a defensive wall against a potential French incursion. Every year thousands of tourists visit this masterpiece, with awe-inspiring vistas of the charming Haitian skyline.
The French flag inspired the flag of Haiti
After the victorious revolution in 1804, Jean-Jacques Dessalines went on to become the very first ruler of independent Haiti. And he was also given the task of designing the first flag of Haiti. According to legends, he chose the Haitian flag from the French flag by ripping the white straps from the French flag, and that’s how the Haitian flag came into being. He defined the removal of white straps from the Haiti flag by saying: the white straps represent all colonizers in the country. The remaining red and blue stripes display the Haitians in the flag. Red for the country’s European descent and mixed African, and red representing black citizens.
Vodou has been recognized religion in Haiti
In April 2003, the people of Haiti took an important step and officially recognized Vodou as their religion. Haiti is the only country in the world that has recognized Vodou as a religion. Vodou means “spirit” and it’s a creole word, its different spelling variations are ‘vodon’ and ‘Vodou’. Here you can also attend the Vodou festival. This is one of the most exciting festivals in Haiti, which might sound creepy for most people, but if you like thrilling things, you should be a part of this festival.
Haiti is known as the world’s first black-led republic
There was a revolution in Haiti that took place between the years 1791 and 1904. And it was inspired by the French revolution of 1780. Jean-Jacques Dessalines was the main force behind the revolution that shaped the future of Haiti. The enslaved Africans revolted against the armies of French and British colonizers. Jean-Jacques Dessalines successfully led them in the struggle for emancipation, and it was considered the first successful revolt in the Americas. After the combined struggle, Haiti got emancipated on 1 January 1804, and it was the world’s first black-led nation and the second nation in the Caribbean to gain freedom from European rule.