Haitian Defile Kanaval is the Haitian Creole name of the main annual Mardi Gras carnival held in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The parade is known as "Kye Marn". Haiti's largest carnival is held in the capital and largest city, Port-au-Prince, with smaller celebrations taking part simultaneously in Jacmel, Aux Cayes, and other locations in Haiti . The When is Carnival in Haiti. Carnival in Haiti is not a one-day event, as you might know it from other countries. In fact, it spans from January to the big parade during the Trois Jours Gras (three fat days) in February or March. Throughout the season, there are festivities and celebrations held every Sunday in many of the major cities in Haiti. Carnival 2025, 2026 and 2027 in Haiti. The Carnival holiday in Haiti comes each year in February or March, as in many other significantly Roman Catholic countries. The date varies, but it always immediately precedes Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of a 40-day Lenten fast leading up to Easter. Upcoming holidays in Haiti. Holidays in Haiti 2025. Holidays in Haiti 2026. Shrove Tuesday is the last day before the fasting period of Lent (for Western Christians), 47 days before Easter Sunday. Shrove Tuesday is also called Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, or Pancake Day. Is Carnival/Shrove Tuesday a Public Holiday? Carnival/Shrove Tuesday is a Carnival Tuesday Mar 4, .Carnival Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, takes place on the day before 2. Key Dates of Carnival in Haiti. Haitian Carnival generally begins in January and culminates in the three days preceding Ash Wednesday. - Dimanche Gras, Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras: These three days are the most important, marked by spectacular parades and a general festive atmosphere. Haiti holidays in 2026 . Upcoming popular. Fat Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day) March 04, 2025. Mardi Gras March 04, 2025. Ash Wednesday March 05, 2025. Carnival Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, takes place on the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, the 40 day period that precedes Easter. As the date of Easter changes each year so does the date of Carnival Tuesday. The earliest date Carnival Tuesday can be is Tuesday 3 February and the latest date is Tuesday 9 March. The carnival celebration in Haiti started shortly after their independence in 1804, making it even older than the famed New Orleans Mardi Gras. It stems from a fusion of African traditions, local customs, and French colonial influences, amalgamating them into an event that beautifully showcases Haiti’s rich cultural heritage. Mardi Gras means fat tuesday in French. I n Haiti it is funded by wealthy families and the government. H aitians also celebrate Rara during Lent, which is a series of Voodoo Parades This post was originally written in: Kreyòl Carnival in Haiti is a major cultural event celebrated through a combination of music and dance. One of the essential parts of the celebration is the many costumes and colors represented in the parades. Mardi Gras masks, beads and festive outfits are welcome. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The Haiti Humanitarian Fund at St. Pius X Church helps support a sister parish, Our Lady of the Presentation, in Los Palis, Haiti. A small group of parishioners, from Conyers and from Haiti, started the HHF in 1998 with Father John Kieran, who was then pastor. Read about Carnival Tuesday in Haiti in 2025. Carnival Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, takes place on the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Party like a Haitian at Jacmel Carnival Jacmel’s Carnival isn’t just something you watch—it’s something you feel, hear, and move with. From late-night street parties to legendary parades with giant surreal papier-mâché figures, here’s how to throw yourself into the madness. These beignets remind me of Carnaval (Mardi-Gras) and good times. In Haiti during the Carnaval and Mardi Gras, families, relatives, and friends gather together to enjoy the festivities and this delectable casual dessert made with bananas. Explore the 2025 Public Holidays in Haiti and organize your long weekends with our comprehensive guide. Lundi Gras: 2025-03-04: Tue: Mardi Gras: 2025-04-18: Fri Jacmel is considered the best destination for its rich history and lively pre-carnival activities, with Lansèt Kòd groups starting their weekly performances from the first Sunday of January and continuing every Sunday until the Trois Jours Gras (the three fat days), where the main carnival parade takes place. The similarity between Carnaval and Mardi Gras in New Orleans is just one connection the two places share. Swoan Parker / REUTERS In 1809, when the Haitian Revolution ended and Haiti became indpendent, thousands of white, free black and enslaved people fled to New Orleans, doubling the city's population in just a few months. Visit Sakapfet.com for information, photos and videos of Mardi Gras in Haiti since 2001. Mardi Gras "always falls on the Tuesday that is 46 days before Easter. It is always the day before Ash Wednesday, which is the start of Lent." Future Mardi Gras dates are: Feb. 24, 2009, February 16, 2010, March 8, 2011 and February 21, 2012. Click on the Mardi Gras krewes below for further information about the krewe and to see their usual route for each parade. Please note: Events and activities are subject to change without notice. Stay tuned to the site for further info.
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