Haiti Flag

Description

The Haiti flag is available from Flags Online in full-size and desk formats, printed on both sides and made to last outdoors.

About the Haiti Flag

The Haiti flag is a horizontal bicolour of blue over red, with a white panel bearing the national coat of arms set in the centre for state use. It is one of the oldest flags in the Americas still in use, tracing its origins to the revolution that made Haiti the first independent Black republic in 1804. A plain civil version, without the coat of arms, is flown by ordinary citizens, while government buildings and official vessels display the full state flag.

Colours and Symbolism

Blue and red were taken from the French tricolour after the white band was removed, a deliberate break from colonial France. Blue is generally read as representing the Black population of the new nation, and red the mixed-race population, both fighting side by side for independence. The coat of arms at the centre of the state flag shows a royal palm tree topped by the cap of liberty, with a trophy of weapons beneath it and a white ribbon reading “L’Union Fait La Force” – unity makes strength.

History of the Haiti Flag

The first Haitian flag was created on 18 May 1803 at the Congress of Arcahaie, when Jean-Jacques Dessalines is said to have torn the white section from a French tricolour and had the blue and red bands stitched together by Catherine Flon.

Within a few years the design shifted more than once as Haiti’s early rulers changed: Dessalines himself moved to a black and red version after declaring himself emperor in 1805, and the blue-red arrangement with the coat of arms was established under Alexandre Pétion soon after. The flag changed again in the twentieth century when the Duvalier dictatorship adopted black and red from 1964, a design that lasted until 1986, when the original blue and red Haiti flag was restored following the fall of the regime.

Flying and Displaying the Flag

Haitians mark Flag Day on 18 May each year, commemorating the 1803 congress with parades and public ceremonies across the country and within the diaspora. The civil flag, without the coat of arms, is the version most commonly seen at private homes, businesses and community events. When displaying a Haiti flag alongside other national flags, it should be treated with the same protocol as any sovereign nation’s flag – flown at equal height and not allowed to touch the ground.

Haiti Flag Sizes and Pricing

• 180 x 120cm — R860
• 22 x 15cm Desk Flag (10 units) — R800
• 10 x 15cm Desk Flag (10 units) — R650
• 90 x 60cm — R400

Material and Construction

Made from 100% polyester bunting material and digitally printed on both sides. Hemmed all around with two rows of stitching and finished with a polyester webbing heading. Rope and toggle for hoisting included.

Supplied in packs of 10. Printed on both sides onto polyester and supplied with a black plastic stick and removable base — take the base off and it doubles as a hand waving flag.

Flying your Haiti flag outdoors? Pair it with one of our ground flag poles or building-mounted flag poles. For offices, boardrooms and classrooms, our indoor flag poles keep it upright and off the floor. You can also browse our full range of North American flags.

Ordering and Delivery

Every Haiti flag is printed to order and dispatched from our Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Johannesburg branches, with courier delivery nationwide. Bulk and school orders are welcome — contact us for volume pricing on quantities of 10 or more.

Order Lead Times

Almost everything we make is freshly printed and made to order, just for you! So please allow 3–5 working days for us to prepare your order before it heads out the door. We’ll always try to get it to you sooner where we can. Some fast movers, like South African flags, ship quicker as they’re often in stock.

One quick thing to keep in mind: the “next working day” you see on your order confirmation is the courier’s delivery time from the day we dispatch — not from the day you place your order. So it’s really 3–5 days to prepare + next-day delivery.

Good things are worth the wait — we’re excited to get your order into your hands.

Additional information