 Flag of Haiti
Haitian Culture
Origin Haitian culture is primarily a culture that has strong West African roots, as well as strong French roots due to the French colonization of Haiti. The culture also encompasses additional contributions from native Taino and Spanish imperialism. Art
Brilliant colors, naive perspective, and sly humor characterize Haitian art. Big, delectable foods and lush landscapes are favorite subjects in this land of poverty and hunger. Going to market is the most social activity of country life, and figures prominently into the subject matter. Jungle animals, rituals, dances, and gods evoke the African past. Artists paint in fable as well. People are disguised as animals and animals are transformed into people. Symbols take on great meaning. For example, a rooster often represents Aristide and the red and blue colors of the Haitian flag, often represent his Lavalas party. Music
Haitian Compas (sometimes written as Compas Direct, konpa direk, konpa, or kompa) is a musical genre, as well as a dance that originates from Haïti. It was named «Compas Direct» by Nemours Jean-Baptiste, on a recording released in 1955. The name derives from compas, the Spanish word meaning rhythm or tones. It involves mostly medium-to-fast tempo beats with an emphasis on electric guitars, synthesizers, and either a solo alto saxophone, a horn section or the synthesizer equivalent. Unlike zouk (which derives from compas of the French Antilles), the lyrics are mostly in Haitian Creole. Fashion
Haitian clothing is usually colorful and bright. Women tend to sew their clothes with a type of lightweight cotton, and wear bright, full skirts and wide-necked blouses. Men wear short-sleeved shirts and cotton trousers. Shoes are very important and prestigious components of attire. Many Haitians go barefoot through a field and put their shoes on when they reach a road, just to avoid getting the shoes dirty. Haitians wear homemade sandals made out of whatever materials they can find, such as wood, straw, and even old tires. |
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Food
Haitian food originates from several culinary styles from the various historical ethnic groups that populate the western portion of the island of Hispaniola, namely the French, African,the Taíno Amerindians Spanish and Middle Eastern influence.
Haitian food originates from several culinary styles from the various historical ethnic groups that populate the western portion of the island of Hispaniola, namely the French, African,the Taíno Amerindians Spanish and Middle Eastern influence.
Language
Haitian Creole, often called simply Creole or kreyòl, is a language spoken by about twelve million people, Haitian Creole is one of Haiti's two official languages, along with French. It is a creole based largely on 18th-century French and some West African languages, and has secondary influence from other languages. In school, all children learn both Creole and French.
Partly due to efforts of Félix Morisseau-Leroy, since 1961 Haitian Creole has been recognized as an official language along with French, which had been the sole literary language of the country since its independence in 1804.
Haitian Creole, often called simply Creole or kreyòl, is a language spoken by about twelve million people, Haitian Creole is one of Haiti's two official languages, along with French. It is a creole based largely on 18th-century French and some West African languages, and has secondary influence from other languages. In school, all children learn both Creole and French.
Partly due to efforts of Félix Morisseau-Leroy, since 1961 Haitian Creole has been recognized as an official language along with French, which had been the sole literary language of the country since its independence in 1804.
Literature
Haitian literature has been closely intertwined with the political life of Haiti. Haitian intellectuals turned successively or simultaneously to France, the UK, the United States, and African traditions. At the same time, Haitian history has always been a rich source of inspiration for literature, with its heroes, its upheavals, its cruelties and its rites.
Haitian literature has been closely intertwined with the political life of Haiti. Haitian intellectuals turned successively or simultaneously to France, the UK, the United States, and African traditions. At the same time, Haitian history has always been a rich source of inspiration for literature, with its heroes, its upheavals, its cruelties and its rites.
Architecture
Haiti's most famous monuments are the Palace of Sans Souci and the Citadel, inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1982. Situated in the Northern Massif de la Hotte, in one of Haiti's National Parks, the structures date from the early 19th century. The buildings were among the first to be built after Haiti's independence from France.
Haiti's most famous monuments are the Palace of Sans Souci and the Citadel, inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1982. Situated in the Northern Massif de la Hotte, in one of Haiti's National Parks, the structures date from the early 19th century. The buildings were among the first to be built after Haiti's independence from France.
Sports
Football is the most popular sport in Haiti, though basketball is growing in popularity. Hundreds of small football clubs compete at the local level.
Football is the most popular sport in Haiti, though basketball is growing in popularity. Hundreds of small football clubs compete at the local level.
Holidays
The most festive time of the year in Haiti is during Carnival (referred to as Kanaval in Haitian Creole or Mardi Gras). The festivities start in February. The cities are filled with music, parade floats, and people dancing and singing in the streets. Carnival week is traditionally a time of all-night parties and escape from daily life. Rara, a festival which occurs before Easter, is celebrated by a significant number of the population as well, and its celebration has been led to it becoming a style of Carnival music. Many of the youth also attend parties and enjoy themselves at nightclubs called discos, (pronounced "deece-ko") (not like the discos of the U.S), and attend Bal. This term derives from the word ballad, and these events are often celebrated by crowds of many people.
The most festive time of the year in Haiti is during Carnival (referred to as Kanaval in Haitian Creole or Mardi Gras). The festivities start in February. The cities are filled with music, parade floats, and people dancing and singing in the streets. Carnival week is traditionally a time of all-night parties and escape from daily life. Rara, a festival which occurs before Easter, is celebrated by a significant number of the population as well, and its celebration has been led to it becoming a style of Carnival music. Many of the youth also attend parties and enjoy themselves at nightclubs called discos, (pronounced "deece-ko") (not like the discos of the U.S), and attend Bal. This term derives from the word ballad, and these events are often celebrated by crowds of many people.
Economy
Haiti is a free market economy with low labor costs and tariff-free access to the US for many of its exports. Two-fifths of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, and but currently remain vulnerable to damage.
The leading industries in Haiti produce beverages, butter, cement, detergent, edible oils, flour, refined sugar, soap, and textiles. Remittances are the primary source of foreign exchange, equaling nearly 20% of GDP.
Major items being imported by Haiti are food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, fuel and raw materials. The major items exported by Haiti include apparel, oil, cocoa, coffee and mangoes. The US is Haiti’s main trading partner in both exports and imports. Haiti’s inadequate infrastructure make it highly dependent on imports from the US and other nations.
Haiti is a free market economy with low labor costs and tariff-free access to the US for many of its exports. Two-fifths of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, and but currently remain vulnerable to damage.
The leading industries in Haiti produce beverages, butter, cement, detergent, edible oils, flour, refined sugar, soap, and textiles. Remittances are the primary source of foreign exchange, equaling nearly 20% of GDP.
Major items being imported by Haiti are food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, fuel and raw materials. The major items exported by Haiti include apparel, oil, cocoa, coffee and mangoes. The US is Haiti’s main trading partner in both exports and imports. Haiti’s inadequate infrastructure make it highly dependent on imports from the US and other nations.
Work Cited:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Haiti
http://www.angelfire.com/psy/haitians/
http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/haiti/export-import.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Haiti
http://www.angelfire.com/psy/haitians/
http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/haiti/export-import.html