Covering the people, places an t’ings of the “Family” Bahamas Out Islands
December “Sip-Sip™”
For my last column of the year 2013….
Holidays in the Out Islands
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]f you’ve never ventured to the Bahamas Out Islands during this time frame, put a trip on your holiday wish list; there is still time…you’ll find enchantment…many of the Out Islands could remind you of elf villages adorned in twinkling, holiday lights.
Starting early in December, there are inspiring church services with amazing choirs–their voices literally reaching to the heavens, handmade craft sales, night boat parades, lovely torch lit processions, carolers, fresh daily-from-island-bakeries, holiday hot-cross buns, gaily festooned golf cart processions with festive decorations, A-list vocalists singing Caribbean styled holiday music covering the airways; Christmas Festival of Lights ceremonies, fireworks, and the not-to-be-missed traditional Junkanoo celebrations, Boxing Day (12/26) and New Year’s Day evening (1/01) which are held throughout most all of the Out Islands.
For your island of choice, the Bahamas Islands website has a schedule of all the varying holiday activities.
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n the spirit of this joyous season, the Christmas and Junkanoo poems below are written by Bahamian poets of note.
Obediah Michael Smith has published 17 books of poems, a short novel and a cassette recording of his poems. He has a B.A. Degree in Dramatics and Speech from Fisk University. While employed by The Ministry of Education, he taught English Language and Literature in high schools on New Providence, Grand Bahama, and Inagua.
This is perhaps the most unusual holiday poem I’ve ever read…written the day I contacted him, it is therefore, fresh as a salad…
Blink and it’s Christmas
It might be no more than myth after all that there is a twelfth planet in our solar system
Nibiru or Planet X
according to Zecharia Sitchin it takes 3,600 years to orbit the sun once
365 days between Christmases here on earth and I complain that they are too fast occurring
complain that I am hearing the same music the same carols recycled too soon
I complain that there are these things that are done and said
to bring the season on to bring it as it were down around us
it would feel like a show upon which the curtain must open on schedule
whether or not there is feeling in it faith in it, belief in it
whether or not your heart is in it
but could you imagine living on Planet X, being a citizen of any country on Nibiru
having to wait for 3,600 years between Christmases
having to wait 3,600 years to go to Junkanoo on Boxing Day morning on Bay St.
© Obediah Michael Smith, 2013
New Providence, Bahamas
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Bahamian poet, Dennis Dames, originally from Mount Pleasant Village, Nassau- Bahamas provides poems from the islands of The Bahamas, with the native flavored touch. Many throughout our world enjoy Bahamian poetry, and it is the pleasure of the island’s poet himself to display to the universe what The Bahamas and its people are like through poetry. The poet has had an active history of political and social activism in the islands. Now, the poet’s focus is the advancement of Bahamian poetry and culture throughout the global and cyber villages of our planet.
Merry Christmas from the Islands of The Bahamas!
Giving is a must
Smiling is a plus
Christmas in the islands is simply just
The celebration of Jesus’ birth
And the anticipation of heaven on earth
Bring people together to rejoice
Christmas in the islands is a joyous choice
The jubilated sounds of music is so clear
The spirit of the souls renewed
New year resolutions flare
Looking forward to another year
Bahamians are happy with glare
Visitors too join in the prayer
Faithful to god is so dear
Merry Christmas to you another year!
Dennis Arthur Dames
Copyright ©2003, 2004
Nassau, Bahamas
Junkanoo
Junkanoo is a time of celebration
it is a culture of jubilation
Bahamians look forward to the drumbeats
and the cowbells shaking sweet
In the music kitchen, the melody is neat
the horns blowing, and the whistles are sleek
Junkanoo fills the heart
and penetrates the soul
It is an experience to behold!
The dead comes to life
and the living dances, are never trite
All are welcome to the festival
so, come as you are!
Junkanoo is strange faces from afar
coming to full life at the par!
Dennis Arthur Dames
Copyright ©2003, 2004
Nassau, Bahamas
Bahamian 12 Days of Christmas
[youtube id=”Enter video ID (CDYzpvBEuRc)” width=”620″ height=”360″]
Bahamas Little Drummer Boy
[youtube id=”Enter video ID (St7kaUFp0FA)” width=”620″ height=”360″]
‘Til next time and new discoveries, blessings and peace in abundance…
She reach,
Sandra