The agricultural festival in Haiti, celebrated every first of May, finds its roots in the country’s turbulent history, marked by independence and the struggle for freedom. This tradition dates back to the time of Emperor Dessalines, whose Imperial Constitution of 1805 established this celebration among the national holidays.
In the “General Provisions” of this constitution, article 27 clearly states: “ There will be national holidays to celebrate Independence, the feast of the Emperor and his august wife, that of Agriculture and the Constitution. » This inclusion testifies to the importance given to agriculture in Haitian life and culture from the first years of independence and our life as a free people.
Furthermore, article 28 of this same general provision expresses the gratitude of the 21 signatories to divine providence for having allowed Haiti to break its chains and become a free, civilized and independent people.
Over the years, the agricultural festival has become an opportunity to celebrate the country’s natural wealth, as well as the hard work of farmers who help feed the nation. It is also a time to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that present themselves in the agricultural sector, and to encourage the development and modernization of this industry essential to the Haitian economy.
Thus, the agricultural festival in Haiti, a historical legacy of independence and the struggle for freedom, remains a symbol of national pride and a reminder of the vital importance of agriculture in the past, present and the future of a nation plunged into chaos since the choice of Michel Martelly, an accident of history, as president of Haiti but never capable of behaving like a head of state.
Imperial Constitution of 1805 » Haiti-Reference (haiti-reference.info)
