eligion and Festivals
...deeply religious Bahamians...
The deeply religious Bahamians find time to celebrate every occasion, from a wedding to a death. The prevalence of religion on the islands can be easily traced back to the Puritan Eleutheran adventurers who escaped to the Bahamas to flee a religiously oppressive atmosphere in England. Churches saturate the landscape, and locals don their most stunning attire for regular church service. West African slaves also brought religion, medicine, and music, all of which would have an impact on the Bahamas over the years.
Festivals and celebration play an important role in Bahamian culture, and events such as the Fox Hill Festival and the All Andros Crabfest include food and lively music. The most unique and vibrant of all of the Bahamian festivals is the well-known Junkanoo. The festival, much like Carnival held in other parts of the Caribbean, is characterized by parades, costumes, dance, and food. The tradition grew out of the break that slaves used to receive around Christmas time during the plantation era on the islands. Crepe paper is used to meticulously fashion intricate and colorful costumes that provide the perfect visual accompaniment to the energetic music. Parades are held for the event on Dec. 26 and Jan. 1.
The Arts
Colorful local artwork has found a staid place in the Bahamas. With the vistas of sparkling crystalline waters and luminous beaches, it is not hard to understand why art is important to the people of these islands. Music is also intensely important in the Bahamas, and a number of styles have found permanent homes. Goombay is the official music of the Bahamas. This rhythmic music played during Junkanoo is often referred to as rake and scrape music, and makes use of the goombay drum. The guitar and saxophone are other instruments that help create this lively and entertaining music.
The true test of a culture is its resilience to change and disappearance. With Junkanoo and a strong sense of religion and heritage, the proud culture of the Bahamas has continued to survive and strengthen, no matter how many tourists call upon these beautiful islands.