Haiti Ancestors' Day

Haiti Ancestors' Day, also known as Jour des Aieux, is a public holiday and one of the most famous festivals in Haiti. It is observed on January 2 each year. The holiday commemorates those who sacrificed their lives in the struggles for the nation's independence in the early 19th century.

Haiti is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea and it occupies the western three-eighths of the island of Hispaniola. People inhabited the islands engaging in farming, fishing, and hunting for thousands of years. French began to settle on the western side of the island in the early 17th century. France named it Saint-Domingue and brought slaves from Africa to work on the sugar and coffee plantations, which made Saint-Domingue the richest colony. However, the slaves' harsh conditions led to rebellions.

During the revolution, it is estimated that approximately 350,000 people died and the majority of them were former slaves. Highlighting the importance Haitians place on honoring the past, on January 2 Ancestry Day celebrates the memory of the Haitian forefathers who fought to gain independence from France. The day is commemorated by military processions and often features public addresses.

• Location: Haiti
• Date: January 2nd