Culture of Bermuda.

Culture of Bermuda.

When people think of Bermuda, they will usually think of Great Britain and the British.  The culture is a mixture of British and African heritages. The British influences predominate in institutions, including the form of government, educational system and legal framework. Judges still wear powdered wigs, bobbies direct traffic, cricket is the most popular sport and a pint of ale at the local pub is a common way to cap off a day's work. English is spoken on Bermuda and the majority of islanders are Christian. The African influence is more subtle but can be found in island music and dance - particularly in music of African origin, which comes via the West Indies, such as reggae and calypso, and also in the rhythm of Gombey dancers.

The Gombey dancing is the most interesting art form unique to Bermuda. While it has roots in West African tribal music, Gombey dancing also incorporates influences from Christian missionaries, the British military and, most visibly, American Indians, from whom the Gombey dancers have adapted their costumes. To the uninitiated, the Gombey dancers may just look like wildly costumed characters jumping up and down to loud music, but in fact the dancing is carefully choreographed to specific rhythms and often portrays biblical stories. The dancers traditionally take to the streets on Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Although no local artists have become world rekown,  Bermuda lays claim to a number of writers and painters who lived, worked or vacationed on the island. They include Eugene O'Neill, Noel Coward, James Thurber, Georgia O'Keefe and Winslow Homer and Peter Benchley.

Bermuda does not have a unique cuisine but does have seafood dishes worthy of mention. The island's fish chowder is commonly made with rockfish or snapper and flavored with local black rum and sherry peppers sauce. Codfish cakes were once a staple food on the island and are still prepared on certain days of the year. Johnny-cakes - cornmeal griddle cakes with peas and rice - are popular everyday fare.

The traditional meal is Sunday codfish breakfast, consisting of codfish, eggs, boiled Irish potatoes, bananas, avocado, with a sauce of onions and tomatoes. Cassava pie is a Christmas tradition and signifies the special significance the vegetable has for Bermudians, since it is credited with having helped early settlers get through periods of famine. Black Seal Rum is the locally brewed national tipple. Locals tend to drink it with ginger beer and enjoy every sip.

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Information about Bermuda

There are many things to talk about when inquiring about Bermuda Information. We have chosen a few of the most popular topics.

• History

• Government

• Economy

• Culture

• Activities

• Myths and Folklore

We hope you find this information useful and hope you choose us for your one of your next cruises to Bermuda.  Remember that we specialize in Bermuda Cruises.