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Each culture has its share of festivals to celebrate religious events, changing of seasons and happenings of local historical importance. These festivals not only reflect the cultural and religious diversity of a country it also provides an outlet for cultural expression. As such the Caribbean region has its own share of colourful religious and secular festivals.

In the Bahamas, Nassau and New Providence Island, Junkanoo is celebrated in two stages, the day after Christmas and on New Years’ Day. Nearly a thousand participants in flamboyant costumes dance through the streets to Goombay music. Prizes are awarded for the best costumes. The origin of the event can be traced to West Africa.

Kadooment Day with 18th century roots, linked to its sugar cane industry is a big celebration in Barbados lasting over five weeks. It is commemorated with street parades of bands, floats and colourfully dressed participants, crowning of the festival king and queen, concerts and much drinking.

Garifuna Settlement Day in Belize commemorates the arrival of the Garifuna people in Belize in the 19th century. The Drum Festival of Grenada has roots going back to the 18th century. Mashramani in Guyana observed in late February is the celebration of the birth of the nation. Floats, street parades, big bands and dancing in the street are characteristic of this important national day.

The Accompong Maroon Festival in Jamaica featuring traditional singing and dancing, feasts and ceremonies has its roots in the 18th century, at the height of the slave trade. The Rose Festival of St Lucia has its origin in the feast of St Rose de Lima. All night singing and dancing and street parades are part of the festival. Keti Koti is the celebration of the National Day of Suriname and the end of slavery there. Street parades with women in voluminous Creole costumes are a characteristic of the annual celebration.

Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago has its roots in West African Festivals. Carnival takes place two days before Ash Wednesday at the start of the Lent season in the Christian calendar. Steel and calypso bands, larger than life puppets, stilt walkers, stick fighters and beautiful girls in amazingly alluring costumes are all part of the celebrations. The days leading to carnival feature launches of costumes to be worn by the bands and big outdoor parties with calypso tents. The reggae festival in Montego Bay Jamaica in mid July is a huge music festival lasting a week featuring the greatest reggae artistes. The event is preceded by a beach party.

Pirates Week is celebrated in mid November in the Cayman Islands with food festivals, sporting events, parades, costume competitions, street dancing and a cardboard boat race. The festival opens with a ‘pirate’ landing in George Town Harbour. There is even a pirate trial. Gimistory is an international storytelling festival also in the Cayman Islands featuring storytellers from around the region and beyond. The festival is hosted in public and private spaces around the islands. Religious festivals like Phagwa and Diwali and Id Ul Fitr are celebrated by Hindus and Muslims in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname.

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