Haitian Heritage Month (May)
Haitian Heritage Month is not only a celebration of Haitian culture, it also has great historical significance based on the inherited traditions that have been passed on from generation to generation since Haiti's independence in 1804.Over the past few years, Haitians in New York, Florida, Boston, Philadelphia, and New Jersey have celebrated Haitian Heritage Month proudly with parades, conferences, festivals, exhibits, book fairs and the like. It’s a pride-filled month that carries out exciting events within the Haitian community and brings memorable souvenirs, including patriotic songs and the recollection of the history behind the creation of the Haitian Flag.In Florida, Haitian Heritage Month is recognized and celebrated by the School Board of Miami Dade County and supported by the School Board of Broward County. The celebration in Miami includes the largest Haitian festival - Haitian Compas Festival, also known as KompaFest.In Boston, the Annual Haitian American Unity Parade is held annually around May 18th, which is recognized by all Haitians as Haitian Flag Day. This parade features Haitian leaders, state and city officials, marching bands, delegations from schools, colleges and universities. Many youth groups, cultural, professional, and religious associations as well as, community, political and regional organizations and Haitian and American businesses also take part in the festivities.In New York, there is a Haitian Day Parade that usually takes place on the last Sunday of May. Other patriotic and cultural activities are held in Chicago, Georgia, Texas, Philadelphia to acknowledge Haitian Heritage Month with pride and dignity in order to promote and share the Haitian culture.While Haitians never need a reason to "stand-up" and "rep our flag", this year, Haitian Heritage Month definitely comes at a time where perhaps people, including us Haitians, need to be reminded of WHO Haitians are and of our significant contributions to the world, both historically and in present times.
Notable dates in May for Haitian History and Culture
May 1st - Labor and Agricultural Day celebrated in Haiti as a public holiday.May 2nd - Flowers’ Day During the Duvalier era, May 2nd was celebrated as Flowers’ Day. Many cultural activities were held in the capital’s bicentennial plaza, decorated with flowers and the blue and red colors of the Haitian flag. Well known artists and musical groups also took part in the annual celebration.May 18th - Haitian Flag Day - In a pact signed by the Black and Mulatto officers at the May 1803 congress, the officers created the Haitian Flag on the last day of the congress, May 18, 1803. Bearing this newly created Haitian flag with pride, they fought and expelled the French army and thus Haiti became the first Black independent country in the world on January 1st, 1804.May 20th - Toussaint L'Ouverture 's Birthday General Toussaint L'Ouverture, who was born on May 20, 1743, was the mastermind behind the Haitian Slave Revolution. He organized and led the slaves to victory against Spain, Great Britain and France.Last Sunday of May - Haitian Mother's Day In Haiti, Mothers’ Day is celebrated on the Last Sunday of May. On that day, Haitians honor their mothers by wearing a red flower for mothers that are living and a white or purple flower in remembrance of the mothers who have passed away.
Comedy Show Rings In Haitian Heritage Month
A comedy show is pitting viral and stand-up Haitian comedians to kick off the celebration of Haitian Heritage Month at Loft172 on May 12. “Haitian Bad Boys of Comedy: North versus South” will have the popular jokers battle out to decide which region has the funniest comics. With Haitian flag day around the corner, what better way to celebrate that than with some interactive team challenges with some well-known faces online, said the organizer.“This is a flag day celebration through comedy, but this time we’re doing something different than regular stand-up,” said Moses Merisier, organizer of the event. “A lot people are into social media and stand-up and we wanted to combine that and do a North versus South battle with the comedians.”The show is set to be about two hours and is introducing popular games that will be done with a Haitian style of comedy, according to Merisier. A family feud-like game and a segment similarly modeled after the popular MTV show, “Wild’ N Out,” are a few of the games the jokesters will partake in and this element of the show is relatively new to most Haitians, he added.“We’re going to have a lot of different challenges, a lot of improvisation and impersonations, and a lot of these have never been done in the Haitian community before,” he said.Two teams of five comedians are going to be divvied up to represent their regions, and towards the end of the show the audience decides which team was the funniest. Comedians include Haitian Jonas and Chelo Chelo, who will act as team captains for both regions respectively. Besides the final judging, guests can participate in the challenges because it will be very interactive, said Merisier.He said the show is more than a party and highlights the adamant champions of Haitian culture, which is important to him because throughout the year these comedians are uplifting the culture and keeping it alive with humor, said Merisier.“I try to choose comedians who are really funny and also dedicated to Haitian culture, because I find it very important to do this around Haitian flag day,” he said. “During this time of the year I like to give back and this is a way for us to show who is doing that.”Most of the show will be done in English with little references in Haitian Creole, according to Merisier. But non-Haitians and kids under 18 who come with adults, are invited to the show.“If you’re Haitian and have Haitian pride this is one of the best events to come to and one of the few moments where we celebrate our culture with laughter,” said Merisier. “We have a family-oriented show and besides the regular comedy, we’re doing something everyone can laugh at and all generations are invited.”“Haitian Bad Boys of Comedy — North versus South” at Loft172, 172 Classon Ave. between Myrtle and Park avenues in Bedford-Stuyvesant. May 12 at 7 pm. $30 ($75 VIP). By Alexandra Simon, May 4, 2017