Haiti Carnival
Haiti
Holiday periods, especially Christmas and Carnival, often bring a significant increase in violent crime. Haiti's Carnival season is marked by street celebrations in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday. In recent years, Carnival has been accompanied by civil disturbances, altercations and severe traffic disruptions. People attending Carnival events or simply caught in the resulting celebrations have been injured and killed. Random stabbings during Carnival season are frequent. Roving musical bands called “raras” operate during the period from New Year's Day through Carnival. Being caught in a rara event may begin as an enjoyable experience, but the potential for injury and the destruction of property is high. A mob mentality can develop unexpectedly leaving people and cars engulfed and at risk. During C ... [Read More]
US Embassy - Haiti
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Local Holidays (International)
Return to Main Page | Return to Previous Page | Printable Version111 111 Local Holidays: Haiti PORT AU PRINCEIndependence Day Jan. 1Ancestor's Day Jan. 2Carnival Feb. 8Good Friday Mar. 25Flag Day ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
Coverage of the entertainment scene in Haiti cannot neglect Carnival where dancing in the streets takes place every Sunday after Christmas and culminates in Mardi Gras, the 2 days before Ash Wednesday. Musical groups called Rara bands dance across the countryside during the pre-Lenten season. Many Haitians join in these singing and dancing festivities, and drinking is excessive. Things tend to become rowdy, and foreigners usually prefer to watch these celebrations on TV. Social ActivitiesLast Updated: 10/31/2002 6:00 PM Most entertaining takes place informally in the home. Single people generally find sports clubs or outdoor activities the most satisfactory way to socialize. As most Haitians do not receive high salaries, it is often difficult for them to return hospitality. There ... [Read More]
U.S. Department of State - Local Holidays (International)
States1111111111111111New Year's Day11111111111111111111MLK's Birthday11111111111111111111Presidents' Birthday11111111111111111111Memorial Day11111111111111111111Independence Day11111111111111111111Labor Day11111111111111111111Columbus Day11111111111111111111Veterans Day11111111111111111111Thanksgiving Day11111 ... [Read More]
Local Holidays (International) - Complete List
Local Holidays (International)APIANew Year's Day Monday, 3 JanGood Friday Friday, 25 MarEaster Monday, 28 MarAnzac Day Monday, 25 AprMother's of Samoa Day Monday, 9 MaySamoan Independence Day Wednesday, 1 JunSamoan ... [Read More]
Documentation of U.S. Citizens Born Abroad
U.S. Department of State [Read More]
Background Notes Archive - Western Hemisphere
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATEBACKGROUND NOTES: BOLIVIAPUBLISHED BY THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRSNOVEMBER 1994PROFILE Geography Area: 1.1 million sq. km. (425,000 sq. mi.); about the size of Texas and California. Cities: Capital--La Paz (administrative--pop. 713,400); Sucre (judicial--131,800). Other cities--Santa Cruz (697,000), Cochabamba (407,800). Terrain: High plateau (altiplano), temperate and semitropical valleys, and the tropical lowlands. Climate: Varies with altitude--from humid and tropical to semi-arid and cold. People Nationality: Noun and adjective--Bolivian(s). Population: 6.95 million (1992 census). Annual growth rate: 2%. Ethnic groups: 56% indigenous (primarily Aymara and Quechua) and mixed, 42% European. Religions: Predominantly Roman Catholic. Languages: Spanish (official); Quechua, Aymara. Education: Years compulsory--ages 7-14. Literacy--20%. Health: Infant mortality rate (1992)--92/1,000. Work force: 3.6 million. Industry and co ... [Read More]
Panama (04/01)
Panama is rich in folklore and popular traditions. Brightly colored national dress is worn during local festivals and the pre-Lenten carnival season, especially for traditional folk dances like the tanborito. Lively salsa--a mixture of Latin American popular music, rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock--is a Panamanian specialty. Indian influences dominate handicrafts such as the famous Kuna textile molas. Artist Roberto Lewis' Presidential Palace murals and his restoration work and ceiling in the National Theater are well known and admired. ... [Read More]
Background Notes Archive - Western Hemisphere
U.S. Department of State Background Notes: Panama, January 1995 Bureau of Public Affairs January 1995 Official Name: Republic of Panama PROFILE Geography Area: 77,381 sq. km. (29,762 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than South Carolina. Panama occupies the southeastern end of the isthmus forming the land bridge between North and South America. Cities: Capital--Panama City and San Miguelito, a large, poor section of Panama City (827,828). Other cities--Colon (140,908), David (102,678). Terrain: Mountainous (highest elevation Cerro Volcan, 3,475 m.--11,468 ft.); coastline 2,857 km. (1,786 mi.). Climate: Tropical, with average daily rainfall 28 mm. (1 in.) in winter. People Nationality: Noun and adjective--Panamanian(s). Population (1994 est.): 2.54 million. Annual growth rate: 2%. Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 70%, West Indian 14%, Caucasian 10%, Indian 6%. Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant (Evangelical) 15%. ... [Read More]
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