14 Fun Facts about The Crop Over Festival.
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Crop Over is one of the oldest festivals in the Western Hemisphere
Dating back to the colonial period, the first Crop Over festival was in 1687! It looked a lot different from today (no bikinis and jewels) but a lot of the traditions are still practised and celebrated.
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The festival celebrates the harvesting of the Sugar Cane.
Like the name suggests, Crop Over historically celebrates the end of the Sugar Cane harvest in Barbados. Today it is a time when Barbadians come out to celebrate together and give thanks.
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A King and Queen of the Crop are awarded each year.
This tradition has been going on since the festival began. The King and Queen titles are awarded to the man and women who cut the most sugarcane during the season. You have to try our Bajan brown sugar when you visit the island, it’s some of the best in the world!
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The Festival is so much more than a colourful parade
The two-month long festival celebrates culture in the form of fine art, music, food, dance and more. There are many concerts and soca competition ‘tents.’ The competitions include People’s Monarch (voted by the public) and Party Monarch chosen by judges. The Bashment Soca Monarch is a relatively new yet very popular competition with a grand prize of $80,000 BDS.
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Kadooment is the Grand Finale of Crop Over.
Many people use the terms ‘Kadooment’ and ‘Crop Over’ interchangeably but Crop Over is the name of the two-month-long festival. Kadooment is the name of the final day of Crop Over, the popular and colourful street parade.
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In Barbados, it is Foreday Morning not Jouvert!
Cover yourself in mud, paint and powder in the wee hours hour Saturday morning (before the Kadooment Jump on Monday). This nighttime street parade is similar to Jouvert in Trinidad but called Foreday Morning here in Barbados.
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It is different from Carnival
Carnival is a Western Christian festival that occurs before the season of Lent. It is held every February or March on the same day worldwide, like popular Brazil or Trinidad Carnivals. Crop Over on the other hand celebrates the harvest and is celebrated on the first Monday in August every year.
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The Route is different too…
Unlike Carnivals and other festivals around the world, the route for the masqueraders is a one-way street (as opposed to going around in circles). The same route is followed every year from the National Stadium to the Spring Garden Highway.
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The Route is 10 km
While the route is only 10km (6 miles) it takes roughly 6 -7 hours to complete the jump, with no break! This is due to the slow ‘chipping’ and dancing down the road.
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Some of the best music is created each year for the festival.
From Sweet Soca and Bashment Soca to Calypso, every Crop Over you can look forward to the release of new music from local artists. The music will leave you wiggling in your seat. Listen to some of this year’s tunes here.
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It is your best chance of seeing Rihanna
Rihanna is known to attend the Kadooment day parade with a band called Aura. Keep an eye out for her and her glamourous specially created costume each year.
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Don’t try to make your own costume and jump in.
People who ‘revel’ or enter a band without paying can be charged with an offence up to a $5000 BDS fine. Sign up in advance with a band. Your entry payment includes your costume and all you can drink on the day along with other perks depending on the band you choose.
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What in the world is Wukkin up?
All Crop Over long people may approach you for a little dance, or as they call it in Barbados, a wuk-up! We suggest you YouTube it before you attend the festival, but basically, expect the person to come up close behind you and gyrate their waistline rapidly.
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Celebrate Diversity!
Kadooment has an “amazing vibe of people of all colours, nationalities, shapes and sizes” according to Petra Roach of the BTMI (Barbados Tourism and Marketing Inc). Celebrities, locals and tourists party together as one in this day of pure bliss!
To learn more on Barbados visit our Bajan Buzz Blog.
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