The Haitian Flag
May is Haitian Heritage Month - May 18 is flag day. Here are a few facts about the flag.
From the 1987 Constitution, Article 3: The emblem of the Haitian Nation shall be a flag with the following description:
A) Two (2) equal-sized horizontal bands: a blue one on top and a red one underneath;
B) The coat of arms of the Republic shall be placed in the center on a white square;
C) The coat of arms of the Republic are: a Palmette surmounted by the liberty cap,
and under the palms a trophy with the legend: In Union there is Strength (L’Union Fait la Force).
According to the Haitian Embassy in Washington, DC, the Haitian flag has 9 iterations. The current flag was adopted in 1806 and was flown over the National Palace in Port-au-Prince until 1964. During this time there were multiple flags representing multiple areas of the country. In 1964, François (Papa Doc) Duvalier changed the Haitian Constitution and reinstated a black and red (vertical stripe) flag that included the coat of arms.
When Duvalier's son was removed from office in 1986, the previous 1806 flag was reinstated with the official adoption of the 1987 Constitution.
The Coat of Arms
The country’s coat of arms, which is placed in the flag’s center, depicts a trophy of weapons ready to defend the people’s freedom, and a royal palm, a symbolic representation of Haiti’s political independence. On top of the palm is a Phrygian cap—often call the liberty cap—which has been used to signify freedom and the pursuit of liberty since the time of the Romans.
