Festivals and Celebrations in St Vincent

Many festivals are celebrated yearly in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

One of the most popular, well-known festivals celebrated here is called 'Vincy Mas'. As stated in source 1, this festival usually occurs on the first Monday in July and ends the following Tuesday. It is a carnival that was created in the early eighteen hundreds with deep historical and religious roots. Prior to the 1980's it was celebrated before the days of Lent as a pre-celebration. But before that when the holiday was created in the eighteenth century it was also known as a celebration for freed Africans who escaped slavery.

Vincy Mas is now mainly celebrated locally, with some religious connection. Pageants, music, and other events are promoted during the time of Vincy Mas. People (primarily women) like to dress up in costumes representing their ethnic backgrounds.

Example of some of the outfits women wear during Vincy Mas (Source 2)


Another famous festival celebrated in St Vincent and the Grenadines is the Mustique Blues Festival. As explained in source 3, this festival started in 1996, started by blue's singer Dana Gillespie. It occurs in January to February on the island of Mustique, although it is also celebrated on the island of Bequia. For one night the celebration moves to Bequia for more activities. This holiday celebrates blue's music and how it's grown more popular over the years. 

People from all over the world are welcome to celebrate Blue's music at the Mustique Blue festival

Image of Blue's performers at the Mustique Blues festival (Source 4)


A third major celebration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the National Dance Festival. As described in source 5, it is a huge celebration held in St Vincent and the Grenadines during the month of September. All dances are celebrated and acknowledged during this festival; from ballroom dancing to square dancing, to folk dancing, to Caribbean ethnic dancing. There are also performances on stage where natives can showcase the dancing of their people to others. These performances are broadcasted through children's schools and through professional dance studios throughout St Vincent and the Grenadines.
This celebration is primarily celebrated locally, but tourists are welcome to view the performances from anywhere in the world, as this festival usually gathers large crowds. 

Picture of a performance at the National Dance Festival (Source 6)


Sources:

  1. Shaw, Toby. Vincy Mas in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2021. 1 Jan. 2020, www.officeholidays.com/holidays/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines/vincy-mas.
  2. Palmer. Iwnsvg.com, IWitness News, 2 Apr. 2020, cdn.iwnsvg.com/uploads/2020/04/Mardi-Gras-2020.gif.
  3. “St. Vincent and the Grenadines Holidays and Festivals.” Adventure Tourism - Experiential Travel Guides, IExplore, 1999, www.iexplore.com/articles/travel-guides/caribbean/st-vincent-and-grenadines/festivals-and-events.
  4. 2020, i0.wp.com/www.mustique-island.com/app/uploads/2018/10/bf3image_3324.jpg?fit=5220%2C2514&ssl=1. Accessed 8 Oct. 20209. 
  5. Unknown. St Vincent and the Grenadines National Dance Festival. 2014, www.spla.pro/file.event.st-vincent-and-the-grenadines-national-dance-festival.35836.html. 
  6. Unknown. 14 Sept. 2018, searchlight.vc/searchlight/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/09/09-14-18-Rooted-dance-750x499.jpg. Accessed 8 Oct. 2020.    

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