When is Haitian Heritage Month?
Haitian Heritage Month 2027
Sat, May 1, 2027 – Mon, May 31, 2027
The whole of May. That's in 196 days.
until Haitian Heritage Month begins, in your time zone
Haitian Heritage Month celebrates the history, culture and contributions of Haitians and Haitian Americans. It began in Boston in 1998 and is now marked each May with parades, flag raisings and school events in cities with large Haitian communities.
About Haitian Heritage Month
The month honors a country whose history is tied closely to that of the United States. Haiti declared independence from France on January 1, 1804, after an uprising of enslaved people led by figures including Toussaint Louverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines, becoming the world's first Black republic. A 2013 House resolution also recalls that free men of color from colonial Saint-Domingue fought beside American forces at the Siege of Savannah in 1779, and that Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a man of Haitian origin, built the first permanent settlement at what became Chicago.
May was chosen because of Haitian Flag Day on May 18. Tradition holds that at a congress in Arcahaie in May 1803, Dessalines tore the white band out of the French tricolor and Catherine Flon stitched the blue and red together, creating the first Haitian flag. Flag Day remains the high point of the month for many families.
A 2016 Florida Senate memorial records that the heritage month was first celebrated in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1998, and spread from there to communities from Florida to New York. The same memorial notes that South Florida Congressman Kendrick B. Meek introduced bills in 2004 and 2006 to recognize the month nationally, and that President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush sent a letter of congratulations in May 2005 and hosted a White House celebration that year. Representative Frederica Wilson of Florida introduced another House resolution calling for a Haitian-American Heritage Month on May 17, 2013.
No federal law designates the month. It is recognized instead through state legislative resolutions, governors' and mayors' proclamations, and community events organized by Haitian American groups, churches and schools in states such as Florida, New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey.
Sources: Florida Senate Memorial 600 (2016): Recognition of Haitian Independence Day, Haitian Flag Day, and Haitian Heritage Month, H. Res. 224 (113th Congress), Haitian-American Heritage Month, via GovInfo, Office of Rep. Frederica Wilson: Resolution establishing May as Haitian Heritage Month. How we check dates.
How to mark Haitian Heritage Month
- Go to a Haitian Flag Day parade, festival or flag raising near May 18, or watch one streamed by a local community group.
- Cook or order a Haitian meal, such as griot with pikliz, diri ak djon djon or soup joumou, from a Haitian-owned restaurant.
- Read a book by a Haitian or Haitian American writer, such as Edwidge Danticat, and discuss it with friends or a book club.
- Learn about the Haitian Revolution and its effect on the United States, including its link to the Louisiana Purchase.
- Learn a few everyday phrases in Haitian Creole, the language most Haitians speak at home.
Haitian Heritage Month dates
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Thu, May 1 – Sat, May 31 |
| 2026 | Fri, May 1 – Sun, May 31 |
| 2027 | Sat, May 1 – Mon, May 31 |
| 2028 | Mon, May 1 – Wed, May 31 |
| 2029 | Tue, May 1 – Thu, May 31 |
| 2030 | Wed, May 1 – Fri, May 31 |
| 2031 | Thu, May 1 – Sat, May 31 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is Haitian Heritage Month 2027?
Haitian Heritage Month 2027 is Sat, May 1, 2027 – Mon, May 31, 2027. It falls on the whole of May. In 2028, it is on Monday, May 1, 2028.
Why is Haitian Heritage Month in May?
May includes Haitian Flag Day, May 18, which marks the creation of the first Haitian flag at the Arcahaie congress in May 1803.
Where did Haitian Heritage Month start?
It was first celebrated in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1998, and later spread to Haitian communities in Florida, New York, New Jersey and other states.
Is Haitian Heritage Month a public holiday?
No. Haitian Heritage Month is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.