Flag of Haiti facts for kids
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| Name | Bicolour |
|---|---|
| Use | State and war flag, state and naval ensign   |
| Proportion | 3:5 |
| Adopted | 26 February 1986 |
| Design | A horizontal bicolour of blue and red, charged with the Coat of Arms in a small white box in the center. |
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Variant flag of Haiti
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|
| Use | Civil flag and ensign  |
| Proportion | 3:5 |
| Adopted | 26 February 1986 |
| Design | A horizontal bicolour of blue and red. |
The flag of Haiti is a very important symbol for the country. It has two main colors: blue and red. This flag was officially adopted on February 25, 1986. It tells a story about Haiti's history and its fight for freedom.
Contents
What the Flag Looks Like
The Haitian flag has two stripes that go across, one above the other. The top stripe is blue, and the bottom stripe is red. In the middle of the flag, there is a white square. Inside this square, you can see the Coat of Arms of Haiti.
The Coat of Arms
The Coat of Arms shows a palm tree standing tall. Around the palm tree, there are several flags. You can also see two cannons on each side of the palm tree. These symbols represent Haiti's strength and history.
Civil Flag and Ensign
Not all Haitian flags have the Coat of Arms. For example, the civil flag, which is used by regular people, and the ensign, which is used by commercial ships, only have the blue and red stripes. They do not have the white square with the Coat of Arms.
A Bit of History
The Haitian flag has a fascinating past. It was first created in 1803 by a revolutionary leader named Jean-Jacques Dessalines. He was inspired by the flag of France, which is called the Tricolore.
How the Flag Was Born
The French flag had three stripes: blue, white, and red. Jean-Jacques Dessalines wanted to create a new flag for Haiti that showed its independence. So, he removed the white stripe from the French flag. He kept only the blue and red stripes to make Haiti's first flag.
Changes Over Time
For a period from May 25 1964 to February 25 1986, Haiti had a different flag. This was during the time when Francois and Jean-Claude Duvalier were in charge of the country. This older flag was red and black, and its stripes went up and down (vertically) instead of across (horizontally). After this period, Haiti returned to its blue and red flag that we see today.
See also
In Spanish: Bandera de Haití para niños
