Antigua And Barbuda Culture Facts: You Will Definitely Love These

Antigua and Barbuda is a dual-island country, which gained independence in 1981.

Tourism is the most important part of the country's economy. Many people find their way to these islands during the November to April period.

If you have been wanting to go on a vacation, make sure to indulge in the rich cultural history of Antigua and Barbuda. The food and music of these islands are sure to woo you. If that isn't enough, the sunny weather and the warm-hearted demeanor of the people will surely have you wanting to add a few days to the itinerary!

Antigua is known for its black pineapple, which is the sweetest in the world. Even if you don't speak Antiguan creole, be assured that you will have no trouble communicating in English. Keep reading for more such facts!

If you enjoy reading this article, why not also check out Hawaiian culture facts and Ecuador culture facts here at Kidadl!

Fun Facts About Antigua And Barbuda's Culture

The British empire entered the islands in the year 1632 and brought the enslaved Africans with them. After a long British reign, when Antigua and Barbuda were finally an independent nation, the original culture was somewhat lost. What we now see as a part of the Caribbean is a mixture of the traditions and cultures of the people of African descent and the future generations of the Britishers.

Barbuda is a small island with an area of 62 sq. mi (161 sq. km). It is located in the Eastern Caribbean.

One of the most interesting facts about Antigua and Barbuda is that Christopher Columbus first spotted these islands in the year 1493. The name that he gave them was Santa Maria de la Antigua. For years, the Caribs settled in these islands. Before them, the Arawak Indians made their way into these islands and lived for a long time. However, the first people known to have inhabited Antigua and Barbuda were the Ciboney people. It is therefore clear that Antigua and Barbuda have had a complex history and have been ruled by several people before finally gaining independence.

The Antigua-Barbuda culture is pretty rich and clearly fuses the African and British traditions. Since the major religion in the nation is Christianity, most people tend to follow Christian customs and festivals. Celebration of the local produce also forms a huge part of the culture.

Facts About Antigua And Barbuda's Traditions

Christopher Columbus found the Antigua-Barbuda islands when he was on a voyage to the West Indies in 1493, however, it was years later that the Britishers decided to colonize the land. As a result of colonization, the ways of the English and their traditions fused into that of the people of Antigua. By the 20th century when the country actually gained independence, the majority religion was Christianity and the official language was English. The same remains to the day.

The population of the country is dominated by people of African descent. The rest of the population consists of British, Portuguese, Lebanese, and Syrian people. Its society is therefore diverse and rich in cultures and traditions. One of the most pertinent and important parts of the Antigua-Barbuda tradition is music. Before slavery was abolished in the 18th century, music was the only way in which the enslaved people could communicate with each other. Since they did not have access to other instruments, they developed Calypso music which utilized pots and pans and songs as a way of communication. After the independence of the country, the people incorporated this music into their carnival, which is held at the end of July.

The people of the West Indies and Caribbean islands are known to have been admirers of cricket and the people of Antigua and Barbuda are no different. The national sport is cricket and a lot of people play it all around the country. In fact, many West Indian cricket players hail from Antigua and Barbuda.

Facts About Antigua And Barbuda's Food

Through the English Harbour, Antigua and Barbuda became the 'Gateway to the Caribbean' for the British colonizers.

Even though these islands have rich cultural history, the country was reduced to its capacity for producing sugar. The food culture in the country mainly consists of natural produce. Some of the favorite foods are fungee, which is a popular cornmeal dish, and breadfruit.

Facts About Antigua And Barbuda's People

The two-week-long carnival at the end of July and stretching to the early days of August is one of the most important events that are held in Antigua and Barbuda. People of the country come together to celebrate their culture. The main events are held in the capital city of Saint John's and the island country comes together and gathers in large numbers.

The mango festival also forms a large part of the island culture, since the fruit is found in abundance in Antigua and Barbuda. The people of the Antigua and Barbuda island countries also celebrate their independence through events that are planned throughout an entire week!

At the present day, Antigua and Barbuda's economy depends on tourism. Tourism in the country is at its peak from November to April, as people from Europe and US visit Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean islands to escape the cold winters!

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Antigua and Barbuda culture facts then why not take a look at Colombia culture facts, or Hungarian culture facts.