By law, if you pass anyone over the age of 70 in the street, you must bow to them and say a prayer to the Gods of the Ancients. 3 . Duvalier authorized more than 10,000 Tonton Macoute, organized in 500 sections across the country, to maintain complete control over the population. Galveston has sit/lie laws that will get you a $500 fine for blocking sidewalks. In the eighteenth century, Haitians developed elaborate tables of genetic descent, dividing mulattos into over a hundred shades of black and white. One weird law still on the books in Utah is one that prohibits driving a herd of animals down any city street. [3] According to the historian Laurent Dubois, between 5 and 10 percent of slaves died every year due to overwork and disease, a rate that outpaced births. In 2003, the U.S. Coast Guard picked up 2,000 Haitian boat people trying to reach U.S. shores, more than from any other Caribbean nation. A blend of Creole, French, African, Spanish, and Tano, the food in Haiti is truly flavorful and something you should most certainly try. It stated that all local government employees were required to buy and smoke at least 23 thousand packets of cigarettes each year. The newly independent country took the name Haiti, the aboriginal name of Hispaniola. The government has set up the Haiti Reconstruction Fund with a view to redevelopingthe island nation. In 1825, France's King Charles X threatened to invade Haiti unless it paid an "independence debt" of 150 million francs to reimburse France for the loss of its slaves and land. Haiti and Liechtenstein developed identical national flags independently of each other. The design of the Haiti flag is inspired by the French tricolor flag. Among the many Haitian musicians, the actor, musician, and rapper Wyclef Jean is the most famous. km.). [13] "The macoutes were Papa Doc's version of brownshirts and the Waffen SS, except that their usual uniform was blue jeans, T-shirts, sunglasses, and they carried clubs or pistols," wrote journalist and author Herbert Gold in Best Nightmare on Earth: A Life in Haiti. However, if the child is more than 6 months old, the mother faces a fine (via Stupid Laws ). In L.A., it's prohibited to wear zoot suits, which are characterized by high-waisted, wide-legged, tight-cuffed trousers and a long coat with wide lapels and wide padded shoulders. Above the palm on the Haitian flag is the Cap of Liberty and below the whole arrangement on a white ribbon is the motto LUnion fait la Force (Unity makes strength). Photo Credit: Peter Hermes Furian via 123RF.com. Good luck compiling good information, not easy to do, but you should rely on locals who know their stuff to be sure! Source, 20. A first major problem with Haiti's criminal laws is that there is a great deal of uncertainty about what the law is. Gambling at a home poker game is illegal in Belgium. 49 / 50. [1] Many journalists, however, practice a measure of self-censorship in order to protect themselves from retribution. February 24, 2023 36:53. Leased until 2050 to the Royal Caribbean International, this resort was named after Marquis de La Badie, a French man who was the first settler in the area in the 17th century. So it is somewhat ironic that Alaska passed a law banning people from getting drunk in bars. In Haiti, there is one hospital bed for every 10,000 inhabitants. Source, Copyright 2020. {{}x4ZM{al0TF FJ`dmLQ 8l{q#^cW\S\4gRrsL@216ycc892)tX\CiC|=Ke9cKM= hzu5^E4]= The United States did not recognize Haiti as an independent nation until 1862 even though it was freed in 1804. In Oxford, it is illegal to drive around the town square more than 100 times in a single session. In Barcelona, you can be fined for wearing swimwear anyplace other than the beach, as well as for spitting. It's illegal to run out of gas on the autobahn, as well as to walk along it. We round up some of the weirdest laws around the world, from not allowing your chicken to cross the road or preventing your donkey from sleeping in the bath to never refusing a stranger the use of your bathroom and more. [17], Although the Constitution mandates an independent judiciary and the right to a fair trial, prolonged pretrial detention remains a serious problem. -Article 40 of the Beijing Traffic Laws. These are 20 weird laws in Alabama you won't believe are true. More than 10% of Haitian children die before age five. The Haitian Revolution, inspired by the French Revolution of 1789 was the first successful slave revolt in the Americas. More than half of Haitian imports come from the United States, and more than 80% of its exports go to the United States. Approximately 1% of Haitis population owns more than 50% of the nations wealth. Source, 19. (perhaps they could benefit from one of these strange gadgets) 10. Salary: (CAD) $48,226 - (CAD) $65,106/Per Year. In the 1970s, its poolside rivaled that of the Beverly Hills Hotel and Haiti was a popular Caribbean retreat. Ursula Petula Barzey is an award-winning digital content creator and founder of Caribbean & Co. She is passionate about all things related to the Caribbean especially Montserrat from which her family hails! The Citadel is a large mountaintop fortress located in northern Haiti. The island is made up primarily of two rugged mountain chains which extend westward from the Dominican border. Since Sept. 19, the U.S. government has expelled more than 7,000 of them on flights back to Haiti. The long read : In a country with one of the lowest murder rates in the world, the killing of a 20-year-old woman upended the nation's sense of itself This mystical practice with West African roots originated during colonial times and plays an important role in Haitian culture. They're seen as more hygienic than loose board shorts. Source, 7. These games require a license from the Kansspelcommissie or no-one wins any financial gain. In Oak Bay you could be fined $100 if you parrot talks too loud. Haiti has a hot and humid tropical climate. No one realized until the two countries competed against each other in the 1936 Summer Olympics under the same flag. FIRST ARTICLE-1: The city of Port-au-Prince is the capital and the seat of government. Haiti also has a small population of Middle Easterners, descendants of Syrian and Lebanese people who came to Haiti in the nineteenth century. Unity in Haiti is celebrated on Haiti Flag and Universities Day which is an independence celebration as well as an occasion to recognize the countrys educational system. The Western Hemispheres largest mountain top fortress, the Citadelle Laferrire, is also found in Haiti. And it seems every state has at least a few of them. Eighty percent of Haitians are Roman Catholic, 16% are Protestant, and 4% are other. In Acworth, GA, all citizens must own a rake. History's most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Ancient imperial law stipulates that anyone caught sharing the secrets of sericulture (otherwise known as silk-making) was to be tortured to death. 4I%{1Jv.~T/Nk+*J]G_k6kU97>[_+UriV2jV-RVOV BPZu{qE,zyq^%1?4Xv. The grace, strength, and determination they have shown today (and throughout history) is something we could all learn from. The dead were replaced by new slaves from Africa.[4]. This was meant to prevent the spread of African swine fever, but it devastated Haitian peasant wealth. 2. Check benefits and financial support you can get, Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, View a printable version of the whole guide, About Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice. People tend to greet with bonjour (good morning) or bonswa (good afternoon) with men often shaking hands and females often kissing each other on the cheek. August 15, 2022. (Thus the need for your passport.) =,E{krs?BGvw8pNc
u["iM56pMA `AK`N#[&!fd%UefH6jq 3C1YnAXxawK,-l8u//iPT bw"1AdsRjSwKe}L]q?QV_|">!~KcIA.3G5hwW Voodoo is often practiced alongside, Gourds were so important to the Haitian people that in 1807, President Henri Christophe (1761-1820) made them the base of national currency and declared all gourds the property of the state. Another weird state law makes it illegal for a person to eat a live eel in a public place unless the person loudly announces "Warning! For the latest travel warnings and alerts around the world, read about lockdowns and border restrictions. Oxford, OH 45056, USA. This law made it illegal to turn up at the UK's Parliament with weapons, armor or armed men. Haitis southern peninsula is very vulnerable to hurricanes (tropical cyclones) in comparison to other regions. Columbus men built a fortified encampment, La Navidad and initially, relations between the Spanish and the Tano people were good but it soon turned south resulting in the locals killing the new settlers. Pack all luggage yourself and dont be tempted to carry items through customs for anyone else. of highways. Source, 28. With an area of 10,714 square miles (27,750 square kilometers), Haiti is only slightly larger than Vermont. Accessed: March 24, 2010. What you'll find below are some of the more believably unbelievable ones, many courtesy of dumblaws.com, the ultimate collection of silly laws. What people do not know, however, is that Haiti officially named the Republic of Haiti is a nation with a rich cultural depth and history and its people are among the most resilient. In New York, the penalty for jumping off a building is . Now micro stamping has been proposed by Governor Murphy, and it exists in California. This . Aerial view of cruise ship and beach on Labadee Island in Haiti. While Haiti has experienced its fair share of tragedies including various natural disasters, its people remain resilient and the country has much to be proud of including successful rebellion and independence from France. Fun facts about Iceland - Strange customs, weird laws and interesting facts. In 1959, Franois Duvalier formed a paramilitary force[12] known as the Tonton Macoute, named after a mythic Haitian character who kidnapped misbehaving children, carried them off in a bag and ate them for breakfast. Haiti map. The other 5% are mulattos, descendants of French planters and African slaves, and whites. It's illegal to impersonate a priest. In 1957, Franois Duvalier, also known as "Papa Doc", became president of Haiti, ushering in a period of human rights abuses from which the country is still recovering. After the Haitian Slave Revolt, France demanded the newly independent country compensate former plantation owners who had lost their property to the tune of $21 Billion (inflation adjusted). Of course, this is permissible if the mayor gives you consent (per Only in Your State ). "I soon repented and judged myself guilty of ignorance. Predominantly a slave revolt, Haitians finally won their freedom and independence from France in 1804. All Rights Reserved. Financial Advice: What should do you in case you win a jackpot?