FÊTE NATIONALE DE L’INDÉPENDANCE

On 1 ^{January 2004, Haiti commemorated the triumph of the indigenous army over the Napoleonic troops who came to restore slavery on the island two centuries ago. The island of Santo Domingo became independent after a bloody war. It thus became the first black state and the second independent State of the Americas by adopting the name of Haiti from the taïno language.
Former President Jean-Baptiste Aristide took advantage of the anniversary to demand from France a refund of the debt that slaves had had to pay after their revolt. Some intellectuals refused to participate in the event judging that the government was using this time of commemoration for propagandists purposes.}

Since then, 1 ^{January is certainly a historic date in the struggle for the independence of the Haitian people and is officially regarded as such, but it is not a day of special rejoicing for the people. January 1 st is first day of the Year!}