Gombey Festival Bermuda

Gombey Dancers

6 May 2015 | From Carol of Bermuda

POSTCROSSING SWAP

The Gombey is an iconic symbol of Bermuda, this folklife tradition reflecting the island’s blend of African, indigenous peoples, Caribbean and British cultures, incorporating them over time into a unique performance art full of colourful and intricate masquerade, dance and drumming.

The annual Gombey Festival is held in Bermuda in the month of September to showcase the rich traditional folk art and expose the islanders and visitors with the skills that have been acquired by the local performers over the years. It provides a platform for local gombey troupes to perform and display their craft and is an exciting opportunity for locals and visitors alike to enjoy the dance, music and costume of the gombeys. The Gombey Dance in Bermuda roots back to Afro-Caribbean style of dancing on drum beats that were introduced into the island during the 1600s. 

Dancers are usually male, and perform in groups of 10-30 though in modern times female groups have emerged. The traditions have been passed down orally from one generation to the next within families and the Captains of each troupe determine the direction of the troupe and style that is taught. 

Sources: Wikipedia, Bermuda Attractions

My first postcard from Bermuda

St. George's, Bermuda

6 May 2015 | From Carol of Bermuda

POSTCROSSING SWAP

St. George's, located on the island and within the parish of the same names, settled in 1612, was the first permanent English settlement on the islands of Bermuda. It is often described as the third successful English settlement in the Americas, after St. John's, Newfoundland, and Jamestown, Virginia.

The Town of St. George is the oldest continuously occupied town of English origin in the new world. Picturesque cottages, quaint lanes and alleyways and a wealth of historic architecture attract visitors from all over the world. The town and its surrounding fortifications were recently designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Dotted with 18th century homes, colonial landmarks, and thriving businesses, restaurants and shops, the Town of St. George is a breathtaking blend of both colonial and modern worlds.

Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic Ocean, located off the east coast of North America. The island is surrounded by a fantastic coral reef that harbors colorful fish and has ensnared scores of shipwrecks, making for memorable diving and snorkeling. Bermuda boasts a balmy climate that's comfortable all year round and friendly people who readily strike up conversations with strangers. And there's plenty of distinctive local color as well, from a landscape of tidy pastel houses to dapper businessmen dressed in Bermuda shorts.

Source: GoToBermuda, Lonely Planet