Religion- The Bahamas Religions. Religions: Protestant 69.9% (includes Baptist 34.9%, Anglican 13.7%, Pentecostal 8.9% Seventh Day Adventist 4.4%, Methodist 3.6%, Church of God 1.9%, Brethren 1.6%), Roman Catholic 12%, other Christian 13% (includes Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), other 0.6%, none 1.9%, unspecified 2.6% (2010 est.) Protestant Christian denominations including Baptists (35 percent), Anglicans (15 percent), Pentecostals (8 percent), Church of God[disambiguation needed] (5 percent), Seventh-day Adventists (5 percent), and Methodists (4 percent). Although many unaffiliated Protestant congregations are almost exclusively black, most mainstream churches are integrated racially. Smaller Jewish, Baha'i, Jehovah's Witness and Muslim communities also are active. A small number of Bahamians and Haitians, particularly those living in the Family Islands, practice Obeah, a form of African shamanism. There are significant Roman Catholic (14 percent) and Greek Orthodox populations. A small number of citizens identify themselves as Rastafarians. Some members of the small resident Guyanese and Indian populations practice Hinduism and other South Asian religions.
Festivals- This is why it is not uncommon to find some kind of special event or festival is taking place during your visit. Attending a local festival is a great way to learn about the people of the Bahamas, enjoy some local fare, listen to live music, and just plain have fun. Events and festivals that occur between the months of December and April tend to draw larger crowds because this is the high tourist season. Large crowds shouldn't keep you away from the festivities, however, because there truly is no better way to experience Bahamian culture. The months of May through November see a multitude of island events and festivals, with something going on at least once a month. Expand your culinary horizons at the Bahamas Culinary Classic Food and Wine Festival in November. Local chefs compete against one another to please festival attendees with creative dishes that feature some of the Bahama's traditional foods.
Junkanoo Summer Festival- Spectators can grab a whistle and experience the thrill of Junkanoo in the summertime at this downtown Nassau street party. Every Friday and Saturday in July, masqueraders armed with bugles, cowbells and goatskin drums dance along the harborfront and through the town displaying the colorful fun and flavor of the Bahamas. Junkanoo is at the heart of this summer festival, but arts and craft and Bahamian gastronomy are also highlighted. It’s the most anticipated time of the year; summertime! Families are out and about and looking to celebrate at the most exciting Junkanoo celebration in July. The event will be promoted throughout the US, Canada & Europe. |
National Family Island Regatta- While the term “regatta” usually connotes sailing competitions in other parts of the world, in the Bahamas it primarily refers to the concerts and food festivals that go along with the traditional Bahamian celebrations of boat building and sloop sailing. The National Family Island Regatta in George Town, Exuma is the largest of them all, with sailing races all day and lively entertainment in the festival village at night. This event is held each year during the last full week of April. It originated in 1954 with the main goal of preserving the boat-building skills of Bahamian sailors. The tradition has continued, and today it is one of the oldest regattas in The Islands of The Bahamas. |
Music- Music is also in the very bones of the people. African rhythms, Caribbean Calypso, English folk songs, and the uniquely Bahamian 'Goombay' (the Bantu word for rhythm, which also refers to the type of goatskin drum used to produce the rolling rhythmical beat) echo in the air. Taking their inspiration from the beauty of their people and their islands, much of the local artwork is bright, bold and strikingly original. Music is also in the very bones of the people. African rhythms, Caribbean Calypso, English folk songs, and the uniquely Bahamian 'Goombay' (the Bantu word for rhythm, which also refers to the type of goatskin drum used to produce the rolling rhythmical beat) echo in the air. Rake and scrape bands have been playing goombay music since the time of slavery, when with few resources, bands fashioned their drum out of a pork barrel and goatskin, scraped a metal file over a carpenter's saw, made maracas from seed pods and played a home-made bass violin (a washtub with a string through it that was tied to a three-foot stick).
Sports- You can play basketball (the most popular sport in the country), cricket, bowling, football, gymnastics; golfing, racing, rugby, softball, soccer, squash, track & field, tennis, volleyball and even water sports are pretty much anywhere. Known as one of the premier vacation spots in the world, The Bahamas is a beacon for many sports. You can easily find a place to have a friendly match whether with a friend you came in or maybe even some of the locals. With more than 700 islands, you can certainly have a great place to get your heart going in The Bahamas. The Bahamian culture has a special place for sports.Their traditional sport is sloop sailing.
Racing- The Bahamas Speed Week was a sports car race held in Nassau, Bahamas from 1954 to 1966. Winners of the race included Stirling Moss, Dan Gurney, Innes Ireland, Roger Penske, Hap Sharp and A.J. Foyt. The first race in 1954 was held on old airport runways in Nassau. Masten Gregory in a Ferrari won that event. By 1957, the race was moved inland to a 5-mile (8.0 km) track. Stirling Moss won in 1956 and 1957, with Dan Gurney winning in 1960. Due to needed track repairs and the lack of additional funding by the Bahamian government, as well as competition from more races running in December, the race discontinued in 1966. |
Football- The Bahamas national football team is the national team of the Bahamas and is controlled by the Bahamas Football Association; it was founded in 1969 and joined FIFA in 1968. Bahamas has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. ... The team is currently one of six national sides with 0 points in the FIFA World Ranking. The PBB-BYF has other major components, including academic monitoring, life skills built into practices and speakers for game days on personal development, social development and education/career development. We believe the education provided to the Bahamian youth athletes will further strengthen the game of football worldwide.” |
Arts
The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) was the first institution of its kind in the history of The Bahamas, announced in 1996, by then-Prime Minister, Hubert A. Ingraham, as part of a larger expanded system of museums that would record, preserve and historicize the narrative of the independent sovereign nation, established in 1973. The NAGB is housed in the historic Villa Doyle (see below) situated on West and West Hill Streets, in Historic Charles Towne and on the border of Delancy Town, and is within easy walking distance of Downtown Nassau’s port and main business quarter. It physically bridges the two districts that are at the core of the nation: bustling Downtown—the hub of colonial power and continued wealth through commerce and tourism—and the ‘Over-the-Hill’ community—also known as the ‘nation’s navel’—where the Majority Rule leaders were born and raised. Sadly, once a thriving middle class community, the latter is now considerably diminished. The museum boasts four gallery spaces—the PE, or permanent exhibition space, on the ground floor, which houses rotating shows drawn on the National Collection; The PS Room, a project space for monthly interventions, also on the ground floor; and two temporary exhibition spaces on the second floor (T1 and T2).
Clothing
Some islands are slightly dryer while others get more rain; it's always good to be prepared for rain or shine whether you're staying in one place or island-hopping. Whatever your plans, comfortable clothing is essential. Lightweight cottons and linens are advisable for day wear, while light woolens are suggested for evenings. Try to avoid synthetic fabrics, which may not be as breathable as natural fibers. Additionally, waterproof clothing and rainwear are a necessity all year long. Rain showers in the Bahamas usually come up suddenly, come down hard, and end fairly quickly, so you need to be prepared with a waterproof jacket or umbrella. Opt for something easy to carry that you can quickly slip on and then put away again when the sun reappears. If you're staying at an all inclusive resort or high end hotels, you might find you feel most comfortable donning what is known as resort wear, or resort casual. This is clothing that is clean and pressed, not fancy enough for an elegant restaurant, but not casual enough for just lounging at home. Typical resort wear is a collared shirt, khaki or linen bottoms, or a sun dress. This doesn't have to be boring; indeed, bright prints, patterns, and colors are encouraged.
Cuisine
Bahamian cuisine. Bahamian Cuisine refers to the foods and beverages of the Bahamas. It includes seafood such as fish, shellfish, lobster, crab, and conch, as well as tropical fruits, rice, peas, pigeon peas, potatoes, and pork.Popular seasonings commonly used in dishes include chilies (hot pepper), lime, cilantro, tomatoes, onions, garlic, allspice, cinnamon, rum, and coconut.Rum-based beverages are popular on the island. Since the Bahamas consist of a multitude of islands, notable culinary variations exist. Bahamian cooking has been somewhat influenced by the American South. A large portion of Bahamian foodstuffs are imported (cf. economy of the Bahamas). International cuisine is offered, especially at international hotels. Many specialty dishes are available at roadside stands, beach side, and in fine dining establishments. In contrast to the offerings in the city of Nassau and in the many hotels, "shack" type restaurants (including Goldies and Twin Brothers) are located at Arawak Cay on West Bay Street about 15 minutes from downtown Nassau and 25 minutes from Atlantis Paradise Island resort.Travellers Rest Restaurant, in Nassau, is known for serving authentic "local" foods. Bahamian cuisine is showcased at many large festivals, including Independence Day (Bahamas) on July 10 (during which inhabitants prepare special dishes like guava duff), Fox Hill Day (second Tuesday in August), and Emancipation Day. Some settlements have festivals associated with the traditional crop or food of that area, such as the Pineapple Fest in Gregory Town, Eleuthera.
Johhny Cakes- Johnny cakes are a doughy starch that Bahamians eat alongside a variety of dishes. The dish's roots date back to the nation's settlers and early fishermen, who blended flour, milk, butter and spices into what they called "journey cakes" and cooked them on their boats. Islanders eventually shortened the food's name to Johnny cakes, and the name stuck. Today, Bahamians cook Johnny cakes in their ovens. |
SeaFood- Like many Caribbean nations, seafood is prevalent in the homes and restaurants of the Bahamas. The country's national food is conch, a mollusk with a chewy texture and fishy flavor. It's often served breaded and fried, formed into balls or added to salads. Bahamians eat a wide range of seafood that includes grouper, rock lobster, bonefish, crab and turtle. Cooks prepare these in a number of ways, including fried, sauteed and curried.
|