Colors of Bridgetown - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Barbados locals are active, friendly, and cheerful people. They are distinguished by an incredible sense of humor and optimism. Tourists quickly catch the vibe and indulge themselves into the joyful atmosphere. Life on the island is relatively slow and unhurried, and it feels that virtually nothing can ruin the harmony of this place. Crop Over Festival is one of the most important events in Barbados that always draws the attention of local people and numerous travelers from different parts of the world.

This colorful holiday appeared more than three hundred years ago and is dedicated to an important event – sugar cane harvesting time. In the 18th century, it was an incredibly important day. Local people brought gifts for gods and thanked them for good harvest. Nowadays, the economy of Barbados is not that much dependent on sugar cane, so it has lost its crucial importance in the life of local people, but the joyful celebration has become a good old tradition. Just like many years ago, locals elect the king and queen of the holiday. The celebration starts with a solemn ceremony dedicated to sugar cane. Once the “official” part is over, a grandiose carnival starts in Bridgetown.

A parade of carts is an essential part of the celebration. Local people always decorate these carts in most unusual ways. Many markets are open in the city during the event. They offer interesting handicrafts, souvenirs, traditional rum, and various national delicacies. Grandiose precessions of people dressed in gorgeous costumes, fashion shows, culinary competitions, music and theatre performances – tourists will definitely not feel bored. Despite the fact that the annual Barbados Carnival is not so famous as the internationally acclaimed events in Venice and Rio de Janeiro, it is not inferior in terms of the scale and tension as the celebrations mentioned above. The festival lasts several days and ends with beautiful fireworks. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Many traditions of Barbados have roots in the British and West African cultures. As the island was a British Empire colony for more than 300 years, the English influence is still noticeable. However, Barbados has its own unique culture that is very interesting to explore. If you want to get acquainted with the traditional music of the region, attend a performance of a tuk band. These bands usually consist of several musicians who play a kettle drum, bass drum, and pennywhistle. Their energetic music is like an invitation for a dance. Pottery also plays an important role in the Caribbean heritage and culture. If you are not sure what souvenirs to buy in Barbados, consider buying pottery. Local artisans create true masterpieces on a potter’s wheel. Functional goods and decorations – the choice is simply striking.

A vacation in Barbados is a great chance to try to play cricket. This game first appeared on the island in the 1800’s as many British soldiers liked it. Slowly, plantation owners and local aristocracy also started playing cricket. Even nowadays, there are many clubs that offer everyone to try to play this game. If you search for more authentic pastime, it’s high time to try road tennis. This game appeared in Barbados in the 1930s. Nowadays, it is possible to see people playing road tennis on both ordinary roads and professional courts. Dominoes is another traditional game in Barbados. It is possible to see local people playing it virtually everywhere – in rum shops, workshops, or fishing villages.

Bridgetown is rich in various events. Besides Crop Over, tourists will find it interesting to attend the Oistins Fish Festival and Christmas celebrations at Queen’s Park. Christmas is also the time to try special seasonal dishes, such as jug-jug, baked ham, and rich cake with fruit and rum.