There are primarily two kinds of vacationers who go to the Caribbean, the two,500-mile-long chain of greater than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cays scattered throughout the Caribbean Sea.
There are these merely looking for the soothing leisure of sandy seashores between their toes, sturdy drinks of their fingers, and sunny skies above their heads.
After which there are the formidable explorers trying to take in a various palette of Caribbean tradition stretching again a whole lot of years to the Amerindian group as soon as often called the Caribs (now referred to as the Kalinago folks).
The islands of the Caribbean are sometimes known as the West Indies, on account of Christopher Columbusā perception that he had landed in Asia (quite than the Americas). Ā
Theyāre labeled as one in all Conservation Worldwideās biodiversity hotspots as a result of they help remarkably completely different ecosystems starting from cloud forests to cactus scrublands.
However equally spectacular are the huge cultural variations among the many islands, with folks, customs, and cultural festivals bearing a broad number of influences starting from African, Spanish, and Portuguese to British, French, and Dutch.
From Caribbean music and dance to artwork, delicacies, and trend, the tradition of the Caribbean islands has had a dynamic impression on trendy widespread tradition around the globe.
Learn on for an array of fascinating details about Caribbean tradition and historical past, together with an summary of theĀ wealthy cultural traditions that make every of those Caribbean islands distinctive.Ā
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Caribbean Tradition & Historical past Information
- Aruba
- The Bahamas
- Cayman Islands
- Dominican RepublicĀ
- Haiti
- JamaicaĀ
- Puerto Rico
- St. Maarten/St. Martin
- Turks & Caicos
- U.S. Virgin Islands
READ MORE: The 20 Finest Caribbean Islands to Go to (For Nature Lovers)
ARUBA
1. A part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Arubaās unique inhabitants had been members of the Arawak tribe, who migrated from Venezuela to flee the attacking Caribs.
2. As a result of distance from different islands and robust currents that made canoe journey troublesome, Aruba remained extra tied to South America than the Caribbean.
3. Below Dutch administration since 1647, the island gained independence in 1986. However its Dutch cultural traditions can nonetheless be felt on nationwide holidays resembling Sinterklaas Day (Dec 5-6).
4. The annual Carnival Celebration in Aruba is equally necessary, stretching from the start of January by means of the Tuesday earlier than Ash Wednesday, with a big parade on the final Sunday.
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THE BAHAMAS
5. The seafaring TaĆ®no folks moved into the southern Bahamas from Hispaniola and Cuba 800+ years earlier than Christopher Columbusā arrival in 1492. However they had been enslaved and eradicated lengthy earlier than English settlers arrived in 1647.
6. The British made the Bahamian islands self-governing in 1964 and unbiased in 1973, however they maintain membership within the Commonwealth of Nations.
7. Bahamian tradition is a hybrid of West African and European influences, with the costume-filled road parade often called Junkanoo (which was featured within the James Bond movie, Thunderball) its largest cultural competition.
8. Regattas, rugby, and faith are additionally very fashionable within the Bahamas, with a excessive price of church buildings per particular person.
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CAYMAN ISLANDS
9. Initially named Las Tortugas (for the ocean turtles there) by Christopher Columbus throughout his remaining journey to the New World, the Cayman Islands got their present title by explorer Sir Francis Drake after the TaĆno time period for Crocodile (Caiman).
10. The Cayman Islands had been ruled as a single colony with Jamaica till 1962, after they turned a separate British Abroad Territory.
11. Made up of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman Islands, the archipelagoās inhabitants of round 45,000 folks is made up of roughly 60% combined race Afro-Europeans, with tourism and banking offering the Caribbeanās highest lifestyle.
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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
12. With the longest historic file of any nation within the Western Hemisphere (over 500 years), the Dominican Republic is the positioning of the primary everlasting European settlement within the Americas, with Santo Domingo the primary colonial capital.
13. Sharing a border on the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, Dominican tradition is a wealthy tapestry of Spanish, French, TaĆno and African influences.
14. Musically, the realm is named the birthplace of Merengue, in addition to the romantic musical/dance model often called Bachata.
15. The DR can be a wellspring of baseball expertise, producing main league legends resembling David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez, and Sammy Sosa.
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HAITI
16. A former French colony, Haiti was the primary unbiased black republic and the one nation ever to type from a profitable slave insurrection.
17. Haiti was additionally the primary nation in Latin America to declare its independence, on January 1, 1804.Ā
18. A primarily Roman Catholic nation, Haitiās tradition is a combination of African and French influences, however its proximity to the Dominican Republic additionally brings Spanish and TaĆno influences.
19. Although identified for its distinctively colourful artwork, Haiti is most celebrated for its jubilant music, together with the colourful model often called Kompa, Salsa, Soca, and a French-influenced fusion referred to as Zouk music.
READ MORE: Caribbean & Latin American Artwork Historical past & Journey Information
JAMAICA
20. Initially claimed for Spain after Columbus first landed there in 1494, Jamaica got here underneath British rule in 1655.
21. Descendants of African slaves used within the sugar commerce now make up a considerable portion of the islandās 2.8 million inhabitants.
22. The third largest of the Caribbean islands, Jamaica is split into 14 parishes, with the inland Blue Mountains surrounded by a slim coastal plain. Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios are all widespread vacationer cities.Ā
23. A lot of the islandās tradition facilities round its music scene, with Jamaican music genres resembling reggae, dancehall, andĀ dub musicĀ enjoying a serious function within the delivery and evolution of hip-hop.
24. Sports activities resembling cricket and soccer (a.okay.a. soccer) are immensely widespread in Jamaica as nicely.
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PUERTO RICO
25. TaĆno tradition remained dominant in Puerto Rico for over 700 years till the island was colonized by Spain underneath the governorship of conquistador Juan Ponce de LeĆ³n.
26. TheĀ El Castillo San Felipe del Morro and El Castillo de San CristĆ³bal forts had been constructed to guard San Juan from English, Dutch, and French assaults. However the island was given to the U.S. underneath the Treaty of Paris after the Spanish-American Battle.
27. Puerto Rican tradition is a combination of African, Amerindian, Spanish, and North American influences, with widespread music and dance types together with Bomba, Latin Jazz,Ā Merengue, Plena, ReggaetĆ³n, and Salsa.
28. Baseball and boxing are among the many hottest sports activities in Puerto Rico, which has produced iconic athletes resembling FĆ©lix Trinidad, HĆ©ctor Camacho, Roberto Clemente, IvĆ”n RodrĆguez, and Roberto Alomar.
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ST. MAARTEN/ST. MARTIN
29. Found by Christopher Columbus in 1493, this island was the topic of the ā80 Yearsā Battleā between Spain and the Netherlands within the 1600s.
30. By the point the Spaniards relinquished management to the Dutch, the French had already established a settlement on the island, and the 1648 Treaty of Concordia peacefully divided the land between the 2 nations.
31. Dutch St. Maarten boasts a outstanding cultural variety, with an estimated 77 completely different nationalities represented amongst its 44,000 residents.
32. The French St. Martin (inhabitants 40,000) is broadly thought-about to be the culinary capital of the Caribbean, with a various cornucopia of wealthy gastronomic influences.
READ MORE: Conventional Meals Across the World: 30 Well-known Dishes You Can Make at Dwelling
TURKS & CAICOS
33. Initially populated by the Carib Amerindians, the islands of the Turks and Caicos had been a preferred hideout for pirates on the flip of the 18th century.
34. The islands had been ultimately annexed by Britain in 1799 as a part of the Bahamas.
35. Made a separate colony in 1959, the islands (solely eight of that are inhabited) formally gained independence in 1973, however they continue to be a British abroad territory.
36. With lower than 33,000 residents unfold throughout eight inhabited islands, Turks & Caicos is among the many smaller nations within the Caribbean, which can clarify why celebrities resembling Bruce Willis and Gene Simmons have purchased property right here.
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U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
37. Consisting of St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas and lots of surrounding smaller islands, the Virgin Islands had been settled by the Carib and Arawak tribes earlier than Columbus arrived in 1493.
38. Over the subsequent 300 years, the islands modified fingers amongst European powers quite a few instances, together with Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Spain.
39. Offered by Denmark in 1917 for $25 million, the Virgin Islands is the one a part of the US the place visitors all the time drives on the left.
40. Festivals within the Virgin Islands have a decidedly tropical aptitude, with calypso, reggae, soca and salsa performed within the streets throughout occasions such because the Three Kings Day competition on St. Croix and the annual carnival on St. Thomas. āby Bret Love
