Guide: all countries » Bahamas » Nassau » Traditions and festivals

Colors of Nassau - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Rustle in the Wind - Susurro en el Viento People living in Nassau are hospitable and cheerful people. Their sunny nature and positive attitude are reflected literally in all spheres of life. For hundreds of years, they've preserved their musical and craft traditions. Traditional dances are an important component of local culture. The best time to visit Nassau is during major holidays, which are themselves a great way to get acquainted with the main regional traditions. The most famous celebration is the annual Junkanoo Festival that dates back to the 17th century. It is believed that the founders of this festival were slave traders who actively visited the islands in the 17th century. Today, similar festivals are held in many island states, which were British colonies in the 17th-18th centuries.
Shopping in Nassau - main shopping streets, outlets and boutiques
Nassau is considered the best shopping destination in the Bahamas. Travelers will have the opportunity to renew their wardrobe and get many interesting souvenirs. The most popular products … Open
Despite the fact that such events are quite widespread, only Nassau's Junkanoo is celebrated on such a grand scale that the holiday has become world-famous. In its scale and colorfulness, it is comparable to carnivals held in New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro. The festival opens and ends with colorful carnival processions participated by representatives of local folk groups, the city's best dancers, and ordinary locals. For the full year, they prepare gorgeous costumes for the parade, which are sewn exclusively by hand. Indispensable accompaniment of such parades is traditional Caribbean music, which makes them even more spectacular.
The main venue for the parades is the central Bay Street, and the bulk of the entertainments take place on the waterfront. A concert venue is equipped here for famous musicians and dancers invited to the festival. At open-air stalls, guests are offered popular foods and refreshing drinks. The history of this colorful festival is very interesting. Hundreds of years ago, British slave owners gave freedom to their slaves only one day a year - on Christmas. In honor of this significant event, slaves organized a colorful holiday with a costume procession and entertainments, which lasted until late at night. Even though slavery times are long gone for the Bahamas, the tradition of holding a bright festival on Christmas Eve has been preserved. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Guide to Nassau sightseeing - things to see and to visit
According to historical chronicles, Nassau was founded in 1650. This city is the capital of the Bahamas. Nassau, which is located on a picturesque hill, has become a witness of important … Open
Travelers visiting Nassau at the end of May will have the opportunity to witness the annual Caribbean Music Festival. Its three-day program is not limited to musical performances alone. Only local bands took part in the festival in its early years, and now it attracts foreign performers from many foreign countries. The festival program is so rich that a series of musical performances lasts more than twenty days, and local music and folklore groups still have a leading role in it. Apart from music concerts, guests of this holiday can enjoy gastronomic entertainment, master classes, colorful fairs, and exciting children's activities.
Atlantis, Nassau, Bahamas In recent years, Nassau and other Bahamian resorts have got a lot of new symbols. Many consider Nassau a “wedding” resort so the number of newlyweds who want to hold a wedding ceremony here is really huge. Beautiful wedding ceremonies were first held on its snow-white sandy beaches several years ago. In a matter of months, they've gained worldwide popularity. Beautiful flower arches are built on the coast to conduct such ceremonies. Today, many eminent designers, artists, and florists take part in organizing weddings here. This feature makes Nassau an incredibly romantic resort where many newlyweds come for their honeymoon.
Family holidays with kids in Nassau. How to entertain your child, things to show to children.
Nassau enjoys popularity among fans of nature, beach activities, and outdoor recreation. Family vacations will certainly not be boring here. The city has a great entertainment center called … Open
Many interesting gastronomic holidays are held in Nassau throughout the year, and the largest one is the International Culture Wine and Food Festival, which is usually held in early October. Its program covers many major cities of the archipelago, and Nassau is no exception. World-famous chefs who compete in preparing the best seafood and rare delicacies present their signature dishes here. Besides tastings of exquisite specialties, visitors to the festival can attend fascinating master classes, during which they can learn how to cook Caribbean dishes on their own. Local performers and musicians take part in a series of gastronomic events making the festival even more interesting.
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National traditions of Bahamas

Local people chose their partners by themselves. Weddings are usually held in churches. In the countryside, local people can marry their cousins, but this is something that doesn’t happen in cities. A married couple can divorce without any problems. There are families where woman is the head. It is not rare to see retired people raising their grandchildren in the countryside – they do it because parents move to cities in order to earn money. Family is an important treasure for Bahamians. They always take care of their elder relatives as careful as they take care of their children. Traditions gender roles are still strong in local society – girls are expected to be cheerful and help their mothers with household, and boys play outside with other boys and crave for independence. … Open

Traditions and festivals in cities around Nassau

Harbour Island
Almost half of all the local islanders work in tourism. The other half still do fishing and their traditional crafts. Officially the island is governed by the Royal Family; in practice, the local administration takes all decisions. Even though the locals don’t ... Open »
Abaco
People here speak English because it’s the only official language. However, there are still some local settlements who speak only Creole that includes lots of French, African and Dutch borrowings and this peculiarity influences their speech greatly. Officially the ... Open »
Miami
The same challenging and attractive for foreign tourists will be the Independence Day celebrated on the 4th of July. The fest is celebrated in every city and town of the United States, however the celebration of the holiday in Miami features some peculiar traits and ... Open »
Florida
City of Sarasota is home to one of the youngest, but no less interesting holidays - the Festival of chalk drawings. This is a unique event dedicated to one of the most unusual trends in contemporary culture. The festival takes place in November and lasts for 10 days, ... Open »
Kissimmee
Christmas is celebrated on a large scale here. You should be ready for the fact that all the stores will be closed on December 25th. Local residents also celebrate New Year, Constitution Day, National Flag Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, religious Christian ... Open »
Orlando
An important cultural component in the life of Orlando is the regular performances of the world-famous Cirque du Soleil. Famous circus performers and acrobats entertain the audience in a specially equipped pavilion in the Walt Disney World Resort. This pavilion is the ... Open »
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