Bahamas Holidays And Traditions
The date of the holiday changes each year based on the centuries old calculations that determine the christian ecclesiastical calendar.
Bahamas holidays and traditions. Bahamas holidays are traditionally celebrated in a grand manner. Emancipation day august monday first monday in august this holiday celebrates the emancipation of slaves in the british colonies in 1834. Overview of holidays and many observances in the bahamas during the year 2020.
A street carnival in nassau that runs from boxing day to new year s day. In government schools religion is recognized as an academic subject. There are several cherished holidays in the bahamas all year round in which visitors are expected to grow in numbers.
Discover bahamas holidays festivals and traditions. A national holiday on july 10 remindes the bahamians of the day in 1973 when the bahamas got independance after 250 years as a british colony. However we remain a member of the commonwealth of nations.
Junkanoo is a mardi gras like celebration that is held on several secular holidays. According to bahamas culture holidays are usually commemorated with grand celebrations which are often featured in bahamas news. This holiday commemorates the day when the bahamas became a fully independent nation in 1973 separating from the united kingdom.
Holidays that fall on wednesdays or thursdays with the exception of independence day christmas day and. Bahamas holidays and festivals. Of this population more than 91 identify with a religion.
Events and observations associated with the holidays we list may be canceled or otherwise affected due to measures taken to combat the covid 19 pandemic. It is a type of street carnival which occurs on december 26 boxing day and new year s day january 1. Both the term and form of the celebration probably come from west africa.
In the bahamas holidays that fall on a saturday or sunday are typically celebrated on the following monday. Easter is the most important of christian holy days and easter in the bahamas is celebrated with two holidays on good friday and the day after easter sunday. Events that fall on a tuesday typically are celebrated on the previous monday.
The bahamas has an area of 13 939 square miles with a population of about 340 000 people. Junkanoo is a large contributor to the music of the bahamas. The government observes christian national holidays such as christmas good friday and easter monday.
Save the locals love to celebrate and have fun and there is always some colorful carnival happening in the bahamas. Please check with event organizers for details. This traditional celebration was started with an african slave by the name of john canoe slaves were given a special holiday at christmas time when they could leave the work of the plantation behind and celebrate their freedoms.
Festivities begin a week before the national holiday with parties parades track and field games and cultural shows bahamas. The celebrations combine music costume dance revelry pride in the african cultural heritage recognition of slave resistance to authority and the unity of the people. The holidays in the bahamas include the following.