Haitian creole lessons 3.1
Visuals: Daniel Marmontello
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Interesting Haitian Culture Facts
– Who founded Chicago? Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, an immigrant from Saint-Domingue (now the Republic of Haiti / Repiblik Ayiti), founded the first non-indigenous settlement in what is now Chicago, Illinois, the third largest city in the United States. The state of Illinois and city of Chicago declared du Sable the founder of Chicago on 26 October 1968.
– Contrary to western/international beliefs Catholics and Protestants make up the majority of religious faith in Ayiti. The 2015 CIA Factbook, reported that around 80% of Haitians claim to be Catholics while Protestants made up about 16% of the population (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%). Vodou, a religion with African roots similar to those of Cuba and Brazil, originated during colonial times and is still practiced by some; with its art, sounds, and culture featured in the annual nation-wide Carnivals. Minority religions in Haiti include Islam, Bahá’í Faith, Judaism, and Buddhism. Although, Atheists and atheism are not too common there.
– Haitian food is often spicy with the use of peppers and chilies. Dominican and Haitian food share many culinary similarities being that they share the same island but they also make for some delicious differences.
– Ayiti was the first free Black Republic in the World as well as the first and only country in the history of mankind whose entire independence and existence is the result of a successful slave rebellion going directly from slavery to nationhood.
– Although, the Dominican Republic hold a much larger stake of the island, Ayiti has the second longest coastline in the Caribbean after Cuba; 1.100 miles. Over 70% of its beaches are still virgin.
– The country also holds the title of being the most mountainous country in the Caribbean. The Taino, known and celebrated throughout the island as the first native Haitians, named the land Ayiti, meaning Land of High Mountains.
-Ayiti has two famous satellite islands, Toruga and Île-à-Vache. As is common in Kreyol, one island is Spanish for Turtle [Turtle Island] and the other French for Cow [Cow Island]. Toruga is well known for it’s pirate population during the buccaneer era and neutral hideout for pirate booty. Its tourist industry and reference in many works has made it one of the most recognized regions of Haiti.
Meanwhile in Île-à-Vache the Haitian government has announced plans to begin an international touristic destination project on the island. The government’s projects on the island has launched with plans for 1,000 luxury hotel rooms, an archaeology museum, nightclubs, art galleries and craft boutiques. Since its commencement in 2013 to its projected completion in late 2015, this makes Ile a Vache among the largest ongoing tourism projects in the Caribbean.
– Currently, most or a large portion of Haitian students prefer to attend university in the Dominican Republic due to economical, financial and/or better quality of education. They all must learn Spanish in the process which is a benefit to many. [The necessity of English and Spanish among the default Kreyol and french results in many multilingual environments]
– The first and only Black Nation to have successfully defeated a major world power in a war; under the command of Jean Jacques Dessalines, Haiti outstrategized and defeated the worlds mightiest army at the time, France’s; on November 18th 1803 after 14 years of battle.
– The most famous architectural accomplishments are King Henri Christophe’s post independence San Souci palace, which was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake in the early 1840s, and his mountaintop fortress, the Citadelle Laferrière, which survives largely intact.
– The most festive time of the year in Haiti is during Carnival (referred to as Kanaval in Haitian Creole). 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. This is a significant time for Haitian musicians for an opportunity to showcase their talents and expand their audience by performing for Carnival crowds. 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 (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.
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