THE FESTIVALS OF THE

CARIBBEAN PEOPLE
SUBJECT: SOCIAL STUDIES
GRADE: 9 R
DATE: APRIL 20, 2015

OBJECTIVES TO BE ACHIEVED AT THE END

OF THIS LESSON:

IDENTIFY THE MAIN RELIGIONS OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE AFTER VIEWING A

TABLE OF CONTRIBUTIONS

NAME AND DESCRIBE THE MAJOR FESTIVALS THAT CARIBBEAN AFTER VIEWING
PICTURES

STATE ATLEAST FIVE REASONS THE PEOPLE OF THE CARIBBEAN CELEBRATE

THESE SPECIFIC RELIGIONS AND FESTIVALS.

TABLE OF CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR ANCESTORS

GROUP
Amerindian

ORIGIN
Indigenous To The
Caribbean

SYSTEMM OF LABOUR
Communal society; cooperative
communities

INFLUENCES
Family communal living and ownership

Craft basket weaving and ceramic pottery

Food use of cassava, pepperpot, barbeque

European

England, France, Spain,

Netherlands, Portugal

Colonized the Caribbean the 17th

century and brought other
Europeans as indentured servants.

Architecture great houses, plantations, fortifications

Languages English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch
Religion Christianity (Roman Catholic and Anglican church)
Sports Cricket and Football
Government parliament (Westminster model) and legal system
Society family structures, clothing, courtship and marriage customs
Education school systems and structure

African

West Africa

Forced migration; worked as

slaves in the Caribbean from the
17th century until emancipation in
1834

Traditional religions Vodun, Orisha, Spiritual Baptist

Music use of the drum, dancing, tuk band: this influences most Caribbean musical forms calypso, reggae,
cadence, zouk
Language story telling, Anancy stories
Food cou-cou, use of ground provisions
Family patterns respect for elders, community living, central role of women
Games warri, stick-licking
Language dialects and Creole have many grammatical structures and intonations of the African language

Came as indentured workers from

1838 to 1917; recent migrants
since 1950s

Religion Hinduism and Islam

Festivals Hosei, Divali/Deepavali, Eid-al-Adha, Eid-al-Fitr
Food roti, curry, doubles
Music tassa tassa drum, chutney
Language Hindi, Urdu
New words in Caribbean English, e.g. roti

Asian

India

China

Came as indentured workers in the

1850s; recent migrants since

1980s

Food chicken-in-the-rough, jerk chow mein

Rice production

DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE

EID-UL-FITR

Eid ul-Fitr is a three-dayIslamicholiday that marks the end ofRamadan, the

Islamic holy month of fasting.

Eid ul-Fitrfalls on the first day ofShawwal, the month which follows
Ramadan in the Islamic calendar. Traditionally, the festival begins when the
first sight of the new moon is seen in the sky.

During the festival ofEid ul-Fitr, Muslims celebrate the end of fasting, and
thank Allah for the help and strength given to them throughout the previous
month. Muslims celebrate by gathering with friends and family, preparing
sweet delicacies, wearing new clothes, giving each other gifts and putting up
lights and other decorations in their homes.

Celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana

DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE

EID-UL-ADHA

At the end of theHajj(annual pilgrimage to Makkah), Muslims

throughout the world celebrate the holiday of Eid al-Adha
(Festival of Sacrifice). In 2015,Eid al-Adhawill begin on or
around September 23rd, and will last for three days.

The Muslims sacrifice animals namely sheep and cows so as to

commemorate Ibrahim (Abraham) following the command of Allahs
(God) to sacrifice his son Ishmael (Issac).

Mostly celebrated in Guyana

Describe what you see

Easter

the most important and oldest festival of the Christian Church, celebrating
the resurrection of Christ and held (in the Western Church) between 21 March
and 25 April, on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the
northern spring equinox.

the weekend from Good Friday to Easter Monday.

Describe what you see

Christmas

The Christians celebrate the Birth of their Saviour and the Son of God Jesus
on the 25th of December. People usually spread good cheer and give gifts so as
to signify the spirit of Giving because God sent His Only Son to earth to give
men a way to salvation and forgiveness.

Describe what you see

Divali (Diwali)

a Hindu festival with lights, held in the period October to November. It is

particularly associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and marks
the beginning of the financial year in India.

Indians celebrate with family gatherings, glittering clay lamps, festive

fireworks, strings of electric lights, bonfires, flowers, sharing of sweets, and
worship to Lakshmi. Some believe that Lakshmi wanders the Earth looking for
homes where she will be welcomed. People open their doors and windows and
light lamps to invite Lakshmi in.

Celebrated in Guyana and Trinidad, sometimes in Jamaica in Kingston (last

time was on the lawn of Kings House courtesy of the Indian Ambassador)

Describe what you see

Holi (Festival of Colours)

is a spring festival, also known as the festival of colours or the festival of

love. It is an ancient Hindu religious festival which has become popular with
non-Hindus in many parts of South Asia, as well as people of other
communities outside Asia.

Holi is also celebrated in Southern Clarendon and Kingston (Jamaica) through

a party event called COLOURS. In addition, Holi is celebrated in Suriname,
Guyana, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago.