Vibrant cultural carnival of Junkanoo
Celebrated on Boxing Day and New Year's Day, this is the quintessential Bahamian celebration. The roots of this parade aren't quite known: many believe it developed from the days of slavery; some believe it was established by John Canoe, a legendary West African chief; and others suspect it comes from the French gens inconnus which means "unknown" or "masked people". Junkanoo is reminiscent of New Orleans' Mardi Gras and Rio de Janeiro's Carnival, but it is distinctly Bahamian and exists nowhere else. Parade participants - arranged in groups of up to 1,000 - are organised around a particular theme. Their costumes, dance and music reflect this theme. At the end of the Junkanoo procession, judges award cash prizes. The three main categories for the awards are best music, best costume and best overall group presentation. Costumes are made of beautifully coloured crepe paper and cardboard, and the sounds are created by a cacophony of instruments which include goatskin drums, cowbells, whistles and horns. As the parade moves through the streets of downtown Nassau in the early hours of the morning (generally from 2am to 10am), the energy of the dancers and the music motivates the spectators to start moving in their seats, or on their feet, or in the trees, or on balconies - wherever they have found a spot from which to watch this soul stirring festival. The most spectacular Junkanoo parade is in Nassau. However, you can also experience it on Grand Bahama Island, Eleuthera/Harbour Island, Bimini and the Abacos. It's held on Boxing Day (26 December) and New Year's Day (1 January) from 2am until 8am. Junkanoo on Grand Bahama Island is held on New Year's Day at 5pm, in the downtown area. It is more of a carnival than a spectator event: there are tents selling local food and drink, and visitors can also join in the parade. If you wish to experience the cultural festival of Junkanoo, plan ahead and arrive early. In Nassau, some of the best views are upstairs on Bay Street, or on the street-side bench seats, which you may reserve in advance.
