Junkanoo Carnival, The Bahamas

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What is the Junkanoo Carnival?

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The Junkanoo, also known as Jonkonnu is a celebration held every year in the Bahamas, Caribbean. The origins of the Junkanoo are still the subject of debate; however, the festivities have become the most entertaining street carnivals in the Bahamas. The Junkanoo is a cultural expression of the Afro-descendant peoples that has become patrimony of the Bahamas and is carried out through a great spectacle of colors and music. Despite being an exclusive celebration for Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, the party is held on other dates such as Independence Day or other festivals throughout the year.

The Junkanoo celebration is carried out through street parades accompanied by music, dance and a colorful costume of African origin, but with great influences from English-speaking Caribbean traditions. Each year, the costumes, dance and music are inspired by a different theme. Preparations are carried out for months with the help of men and women who are part of local groups.

 

 

The different groups that make up the Junkanoo rehearse for months their dance and music routines for the bigday of celebration. The musical instruments used are mainly composed ofgoatskin drums, bows, whistles and trumpets. The costumes and dresses are mainly handmade and feature large motifs and a wide range of colors made mainly of crepe paper and cardboard..

 

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When is Junkanoo Carnival

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Junkanoo is a tradition exclusive to Boxing Day and New Year’s Day; however, it also takes place on some events of the year such as Independence Day or summer festivals. The traditional date of Junkanoo is maintained, soit is always celebrated on December 26 and January 1.

 

 

History of the Junkanoo Carnivals

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Although thes origins of the Junkanoo are somewhat unknown, it is known that the tradition comes from the descendants of African slaves who worked on the plantations in the Bahamas, who celebrated the holidays around the time of Christmas with dancing, music and costumes. In this way, slaves used the days off that slaveholders granted them to celebrate with different cultural elements..

Some theories indicate that the name Junkanoo is commemorative for a folk hero named John Canoe, a name attributed by the English to an Akan warrior from Ghana. John Canoe was a renowned character who demanded the right to celebrate West Indian traditions during the slavery era.

In addition, some historians attribute the celebrations to rituals or ceremonies of spiritual or religious origin. The celebration is attributed to the deity Igbo Njoku Ki and it is said that the people venerate the deity with costumes, masks and horns. Likewise, other sources indicate that the name of the tradition comes from the French “gens inconnus”, meaning unknown people or unknowns, due to the use of masks during the traditions.

Likewise, the elements of the celebrations also have a long and important history that deserves to be mentioned.

Costumes

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Junkanoo costumes have undergone major changes since their origin. During the 18th century, participants woremasks made of flour paste. Then, during the 1920s in the 20th century, the costumes were made with sea sponges. In the 1940s, different materials began to be used that are still preserved today, such as cloth, crepe paper, wires and even newsprint..

Today, costumes are made months in advance and are made with materials such as cardboard, crepe paper, feathers, beads and glitter. These costumes or disguises feature a wide range of colors and are accompanied by rhythms made with drums and cowbells.

 

Music

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The music used in the celebrations is influenced byWest African rhythms, American blues and Caribbean culture. In addition, it incorporates drums, cowbells, trumpets and whistles.

 

Where is the Junkanoo Carnival

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The Junkanoo is a celebration that is also widespread in some parts of the Caribbean and Africa. However, the tradition has become more strongly established in the Bahamas. The celebration is carried out with much more enthusiasm in the city of Nassau,the capital of the Bahamas, but is also celebrated in other areas such as Great Bahama, Harbour Island, Bimini, Exumas and Abacos Islands.

The Bahamas is located in the Caribbean, northwest of the West Indies. It currently has a population of approximately 385,000 people.

 

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How the Junkanoo Carnival is celebrated

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Parades

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Parades are held in the streets and start early in the morning, from 2 am to 10 am. The groups move gracefully accompanied byupbeat music, costumes and choreography. The Junkanoo core groups are “The Valley Boys“, “Saxons”, “Roots” and “One Family” and are mostly composed of approximately 500 to 1,000 members.

The Junkanoo Groups compete in a rigid and complicated competition that is divided into three categories: Musicians, Dances and dresses. The groups compete to take a generous prize home; however, earning the title of winners is considered afeat worth admiring.

 

 

Junior Junkanoo

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Junior Junkanoo is an initiative of both private and public schools, which integrate the tradition through a curriculum. The program allows the tradition to continue to be maintained in the younger generations by creating awareness in students to join the tradition and encouraging them to be part of the festivities through thecreation of their own groups.

Hundreds of children have continued their participation after finishing school, joining the parades and professional groups that are part of the traditions.

 

Tips to go to the Junkanoo Carnivals

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If you want to be part of the Junkanoo Carnival, we recommend you to plan your trip in advance, make a travel itinerary and book your preferred accommodation in advance.

In addition, we want to tell you that, although you can enjoy the event, you can do it directly on the street along with other visitors. However, you should know that you will usually not have seats and places to rest. In addition, due to the large number of visitors and the genre of the festivities, the streets are in a constant hustle and bustle so it could be somewhat uncomfortable for some people, for this reason we recommend you to buy tickets or pay an access to see the parade from a balcony, local or box.

 

Seating

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You can purchase seats from Shirley Street to Bay Street which covers a total of one and a half kilometers. You can purchase your seats downtown and they range in cost from approximately $30 to $100.

If you want to know more about tourism in this country I recommend this guide:.

 

Private Balconies

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If you’re not keen on the idea of seating and prefer a little more comfort, you can try to purchase tickets for private balconies that have elevated views facing Bay Street. Some restaurants and venues choose to open their facilities during the holidays and offer the view from their balconies so that people can appreciate the parade from there. They also offer some food and beverage options during the festivities.

The price of the balconies ranges from 150 to 80 US dollars, the price varies depending on what kind of amenities are on the balcony, seating, tables and service. You can purchase these balconies directly with the establishments in the city. The consumption of products is sometimes included in the price of the balcony.

Also, be sure to pack comfortable clothes and shoes so that you can move around the city at ease during Junkanoo festivities.

 

Events at Junkanoo Carnival

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Before the big celebration, the groups that include thousands of people, carry out the preparations that make up the elaboration of the costumes and the choreographies that they perform in the streets. In addition, the musicians perfect their musical pieces before the big day of Junkanoo.

The celebration focuses specifically on the parade that takes place during the morning hours, beginning at 2:00 am until 10:00 am. However, the groups begin to prepare and get into position as early as 11:00 pm the day before. A large wave of dancers fully costumed in vivid colors take to the streets as part of a historic and cultural manifestation of the Bahamian people. Musicians accompany the dancers with their trumpets, drums, whistles and bells.

 

 

Hundreds of thousands of people are on the sides of the streets, boxes and balconies to witness the cultural manifestation that has been part of the island for hundreds of years. Also, dozens of food stalls are set up in the vicinity to present differenttraditional dishes and street food for all visitors and participants of the Junkanoo.

The Junkanoo procession makes its way through the streets until it reaches the beach, where the party will continue until dawn. In addition, the jury will give its verdict to know who will be the winners of the celebrations taking into account the music, the costumes and the dances.

The celebration takes place on Boxing Day, which is December 26 and New Year’s Day or January 1.

 

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Jukanoo Carnival Parades

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The parade is a large and painful creative representation of the history, culture and traditions of the Bahamas. In addition, it includes different aspects of the past and present of the country. Groups take the opportunity togive satirical messages and social statements during the Junkanoo.

Junkanoo Carnival parades are the result of great preparation to polish the musical compositions, elaborate exemplary and error-free choreography and confect costumes of great color, decoration and detail.

During the parade, the different groups are judged through3 different categories: music, dance and costumes. Through these three categories, the jurors of the event proceed to score the different groups to then determine who is the winner of the Junkanoo edition.

At the end of the celebration, the judges award cash prizes for best music, best costume and best presentation overall in group.

 

Parade route

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During Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, parades leave from downtown and make their way to Bay Street, located near the beach. The parade starts early in the morning and ends around 10:00 am.

 

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What to eat at Junkanoo Carnival

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In the tents and food stalls that are set up during the celebrations, you can find a wide variety of traditional local, Caribbean and street food. One of the dishes you can find is the Conch Fritters, also known as Cracked Conch, which are mollusks or sea shells in batter and then fried in plenty of oil. They are usually accompanied with a dipping sauce.

In addition, another traditional dish of the Bahamas is fish stew, which usually consists of a roux with spices and the basic components of a stew such as tomato, onion and different vegetables.

If you decide to rent or pay for tickets to purchase a balcony to watch the parade, you can request a food and drink menu from the different venues and restaurants that offer balcony service. Generally, the consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited during the parade to avoid accidents with glass containers. However, you can buy some virgin daiquiris, cocktails or any other drink offered on the menu.

Finally, in the city you can find a wide range of restaurants, bars and cafes where you can go to eat. Some of the most popular places are: Cafe Matisse, Curly’s Restaurant and Bar, Sapodilla, Athena Café and Bahamian Cookin’ Restaurant & Bar. These places offer a wide menu with Italian, Mediterranean, seafood, fish, European, Caribbean and vegetarian options.

 

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Travel Insurance

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From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurances. Read more information about all insurance offers here:

 

 

What to see and do inside the Junkanoo Carnival

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Once you are inside the Junkanoo Carnival you can live the full parade experience on the streets of the city. If you decide to have a more comfortable experience, you canrent some seats that are arranged along the parade route orrent the private balconies of the various locals and restaurants that line the streets of the parade route. By renting a balcony, you canaccess the food and drink services that the restaurants or bars offer.

In addition, you can stop by the stores and food stalls to try some traditional island dishes or some street food.

If you don’t want to complicate things, here you can book interesting excursions in Spanish in this city:.

 

What to see and do outside of Junkanoo Carnivals

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The city of Nassau has some major tourist attractions in and around its jurisdiction.

 

Aquaventure Water Park at Atlantis Paradise Island

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This is one of the best recreational sites in the city. Here you can find a large island that has several aquatic attractions. In addition, you can interact with some marine species and attend the aquarium. They also offer live entertainment and varied music.

 

Blue Lagoon Island

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It is one of the most visited tourist attractions of the island. It is a private island with turquoise waters, fine clean sand and surrounded by vegetation. Inside the island you can also be part of different attractions such as interacting with dolphins or sea lions.

 

Cable Beach

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This is a beach with turquoise water and white sand. The waters are calm and you can spend a wonderful day with your loved ones or spend a relaxing day walking along the seashore. In its surroundings you can find a lot of locals and hotels where you can go to eat something delicious or drink a cocktail.

Also if you want to visit museums and important buildings in this city we recommend that you book your tickets in advance through Tiquets: .

 

Safety at Junkanoo Carnivals

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The city of Nassau is technically one of the most unsafe in the Bahamas, as it comprises a considerable list of crimes committed on the streets and in establishments. Generally, the crimes do not affect tourists, but the common population; however, you should stay alert and follow some safety measures.

• Try to keep your alcohol consumption at low levels so that you can stay alert during your trip.
• Do not wear valuables such as watches or jewelry in public, especially on beaches.
• Do not accept rides from strangers.
• Do not take rides from strangers.
• Try to travel in groups and do not go out overnight alone.
• Do not go out alone.
• Keep your valuables in a safe place and keep your credit and debit cards close at hand.

Also, we recommend the following products to keep your valuables safe:

 

 

Weather at Junkanoo Carnival

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During the Junkanoo celebration the weather in the city is pleasant, with an average temperature of 26 degrees Celsius.

 

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How to get to Junkanoo Carnival

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How to get there by plane

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The closest airport to the city of Nassau is Lynden Pindling International Airport, which receives a good number of flights from America, the Caribbean and Europe. Once you are here, you can use the different means of transportation to get to the city center.

We recommend buying airline tickets through Kiwi.com or Skyscanner where they are usually cheaper. More information on this link to review Kiwi.com..

 

How to get there by ferry

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Ferries arrive at Prince George Pier. Ferries run twice a week and carry from various Caribbean countries.

 

How to get there by car

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From the airport you can take a cab or take a private car to the city center. If you decide to go by car, you can take John F Kennedy Dr until you reach the city center. The trip takes about 20 minutes.

If you decide to take a cab, the price ranges between 60 and 75 US dollars.

 

Where to stay at Junkanoo Carnival

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Booking.com

 

Colony Club Inn & Suites

3-star hotel 2.5 km from Nassau city center. Suites feature air conditioning, equipped kitchen and private patio. Facilities offer swimming pool, airport transfers, parking and private wifi.

 

Orange Hill Beach Inn

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3-star inn 11 km from Nassau city center. Rooms feature satellite TV, telephone, kitchenette and private bathroom. The inn offers swimming pool, beach entrance, restaurant, bar, parking and free wifi.

 

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nassau

3-star hotel 300 meters from Nassau city center. Rooms feature ocean view, private bathroom with hairdryer and satellite TV. Facilities offer swimming pool, beach entrance, gym, bar, parking and free wifi.

We recommend you use Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.

 

Thank you for reading

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