January
Independence Day – January 1
Ancestry Day – January 2
February
Carnival
Carnival or Mardi Gras begins before the week before Ash Wednesday, with the main action around the capital Port-au-Prince. They are large bands with massive sound systems that drive around playing music and people dancing and having a grand time. Carnival comes before Rara, which has been dubbed the ‘rural Carnival.’
April
Death of Toussaint L’Ouverture – April 7
July
Saut d’Eau – July 16
Plaine du Nord – July 25
Feast Day of St. Anne – July 26
The two major Voodoo pilgrimages that take place ear year occur during the month of July. Saut d’Eau happens on July 16 in the village of Ville-Bonheur. Pilgrims journey to the sacred waterfall and visit a church built on the spot where the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared in 1884. The second occurs on July 25, which is celebrated on the day of St. James and is associated with the Voodoo spirit Ogou Ferraille. Pilgrims come from all over the country dressed in red-and-blue clothes for the ceremonies. They usually move on to Limonade where the feast day of St. Anne doubles up with Erzulie, another Voodoo spirit.
August
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
October
Death of Jean-Jacques Dessalines – October 17
November
All Saints Day – November 1
All Souls Day – November 2
Vertieres Day – November 18
People visit the cemeteries to pour libations for Baron Samedi around crosses festooned with candles, skulls and marigolds. These visits are done on November 1 and 2 to celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls Day respectively.
December
Discovery Day – December 5
Christmas Day – 25th December
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