Happy birthday, Barbados
The beautiful Caribbean island is celebrating its golden year with a host of spectacular events, so there has never been a better time to visit this former British colony packed with idyllic beaches and Unesco sites, says Laura Draper
The usual gift to celebrate a 50-year anniversary is something gold – signifying status and position within a hierarchical community. In religious terms it can also be used to express appreciation of the divine and, in a magical context, it is perceived as a material with inherent and powerful qualities.
In 2016, Barbados will have a golden year – as it celebrates 50 years of independence – and the island is primed and ready to enjoy 12 months full of events to celebrate this milestone anniversary.
Barbados is a small Caribbean island – 166 sq miles with a population of just under 300,000 people. After the English settlement at Holetown in 1627, it remained a British colony until achieving independence on 30 November 1966.
Since then, 30 November each year has been a very special day of celebration. Independence Day is a national holiday and although this is the official day of festivities, Independence celebrations run throughout November and include sports competitions, fairs, community events and religious services – all of the things that make Barbados the great island it is.
In the run-up to national independence, the British and the Bajans built up a close and keen relationship – so it’s no wonder that the island is still referred to as Little England. The judicial system is British, as is the school system – and they drive on the left side of the road.
There are also a number of British references in place names, including Christ Church (at the southern end of the island), Clapham (in the parish of St Michael) as well as the worldfamous sports destination, Kensington Oval, based in the capital, Bridgetown. The Bajan accent is, in fact, strongly influenced by the West Country dialects of Devon and Somerset as well as those of Ireland.
One of the main factors that makes Barbados such an intriguing place to visit is the harmonious mix of cultures that has created the rich Barbadian heritage visitors and locals enjoy today. In the 17th century, Barbados was a mix of English, Scots, Welsh and Irish along with a strong contingency of Spanish and Portuguese as well as a small community of French and Dutch.
In 2011, the capital city of Bridgetown and its Garrison was designated a Unesco World Heritage Site. It has been described as an outstanding example of British colonial architecture – with a wellpreserved old town built between the 17th and 19th centuries. The locals are also very proud of the nearby military garrison which also houses a number of historic buildings.
If there is one thing the island does really well it’s a festival. Since the early period of colonisation, the various groups who came to live in Barbados brought various manners and mores of their society and culture with them and many festivals reflect that mix of cultures. Everything and everyone gets involved – from musicians, artists and dancers to sportspeople and chefs.
One of the festivals that has become internationally famous is Crop Over. Traditionally known as Harvest Home – earliest records date back from the
late 18th century – the festival was a time to celebrate the bringing in and cultivating of harvests. Harvest Home differed in so many ways from the English version of harvest festival and married together the English celebration of feasting and dancing with the African traditions of stilt dancing and vibrant drumming.
As Crop Over is so deeply embedded in Barbados history, it is often thought of as the most significant and longest celebration of all. It begins in June with an opening gala and reaches its peak on the first Monday in August with the Grand Kadooment Day Parade – but the whole celebration is packed with Bajan charm and exuberance, wherever you turn.
To anyone who wants to take their taste buds on an odyssey, then Barbados is a gift. The island is, of course, known for its rum with Mount Gay being perhaps the most famous export. Rum outlets are also an institution and the saying goes that for every church you will find a rum shop. The traditional shops range from local village stores that sell everything to diners and cafes, but the name signifies a place where you are encouraged to stay awhile and try some of the great West Indian fayre on offer.
When it comes to food, some of the most traditional dishes include rice and peas (of course), macaroni pie and chicken, and the intriguing pudding and souse, which is a Saturday staple and is a dish of pork pickled in lime juice served with grated breadfruit stuffed into a pig’s intestine. Even though this may sound hard to stomach, the dish does have Scottish origins and is not unlike haggis.
A trip to a rum shop is not complete without ordering a “cutter”, which is basically a sandwich, made with Bajan salt bread (with a crusty exterior and fluffy interior). Try the very popular “bread and two” made with a pair of Bajan fishcakes and liberally topped with hot pepper sauce.
If you’re a real foodie, then the Barbados Food & Wine and Rum festival, held each November, is the one for you. The island reaches a crescendo of excitement as it welcomes top international chefs to come and cook some of the best cuisine available. Visitors have the opportunity to try a variety of menus and also taste some of the best homestyle cooking on the island.
Barbados is also known as a key sporting destination playing host to some of the most incredible tournaments around. From horse racing and polo season to the windsurfing and kitesurfing festivals, every event is packed with exciting races and a show of artistry and skill.
And then then there’s the cricket. Sir Garfield Sobers is one of Barbados’ most famous sons (and exports) considered to be cricket’s greatest all-round player.
Born in Bridgetown, Sir Garfield – also known as Sir Garry – played 93 tests for the West Indies overall and was knighted by the Queen during her visit to the island in 1975 for his services to cricket. There is a statue of him at Kensington Oval which is often described as the “Mecca of West Indies Cricket”.
There’s a wealth of things to discover in Barbados this year, as the destination celebrates 50 years of independence. Here are a few historical things you may not know about this vibrant island: The Charter of Barbados, which laid the foundation for the structure of government, is also referred to as the Treaty of Oistins and was signed in a tavern at Oistins in Christ Church in January 1652. Oistins is a major fishing community and home to the fish market, where every Friday, Oistins Bay Gardens plays host to the famous Oistins Fish Fry, attracting both tourists and locals. In the 17th century, Barbados sugar production was a booming industry and played a major part in the island’s history. Many plantations had grinding mills which were used to extract and process the cane juice and at one time Barbados had more windmills than Holland. Barbados is named after the bearded fig tree, which grows wild throughout the whole island and bears a sweet, edible fruit. It is also represented on the Barbados coat of arms.
If there is one thing the island does really well, it’s a festival