|
Formerly called Saint Dominique and governed as a French colony from the late 17th century until independence was proclaimed in 1804, Haiti (meaning ‘mountainous country’) occupies the eastern third of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic.
The Haitian flag was originally blue and red vertical stripes, which was an adaptation of the French
national flag.
The white of the French flag was omitted because it connoted white colonial oppression. The vertical stripes were changed to horizontal in the mid-19th century.
The current flag was adopted on the 25th of February 1986.
Haiti also has a state flag, which features the national coat of arms placed in the centre of the flag.
The current state flag was adopted on the 25th of February 1986. |
