Crop Over - Barbados

I would like to share a little on Barbados Crop Over.

Crop Over is a color festival or carnival based in Barbados and is one of the most popular festivals in the Caribbean. Crop Over origins could be traced back to the 1780’s when Barbados was the largest sugar producers in the world. It started as a celebration to mark the culmination of each successful sugar cane harvest, hence the word “crop” meaning the crop time is over.

By the 1940’s the festival was terminated because of the decline in sugar production but by 1974 it was revived. A new form of Crop Over developed with the mixture of other Barbadian cultures infused to an extravagant festival that exist today. Attracting thousands of people from around the world the festival last for about five weeks. It begins with the Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes and the crowning of the King and Queen of the Festival which is the most productive male and female cane cutters of the season.

Throughout the festivities there is a local market setup in the capital Bridgetown for visitors and locals to browse through or shop the wide range of local foods and beverages as well as local arts and crafts while at the same time enjoying calypso music and live bands. There is the Cohobblopot which is a large carnival like show consisting of the members of the Kadooment bands who dress up to display their elaborate and stunning costumes. There is the Calypsonian competition which is one of the main features of the festival and showcases the talents of many of the “bajan” musical artist. They compete for prizes and titles such as Party Monarch, the Road March Monarch and the Pic-O-De-Crop Monarch.

The finals of the Pic-O-De-Crop competition are held at the National Stadium, and this is followed by the Fore-Day Morning Jump-Up or Jouvert, which heads right into the Grande finale of the festival which is the Grand Kadooment. The Grande Kadooment is the carnival parade which features larges bands and elaborately clad revelers who dress in costumes depicting several themes. While designers compete for the Designer of the Year prize revelers make their way from the National Stadium dancing their way down the streets to Spring Garden where the party continues with lots of drinks, food and music.

This magnificent celebration should be on everyone “bucket list”!

Source: http://www.barbados.org/cropover.htm

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