Page 462 - The British Big Four

The New Year makes its entrance to exu-
berant fanfare. From end to end the Island
celebrates the countdown to the midnight
hour. Step out in old St. George’s, party on
Front Street in the City of Hamilton or join
the festivities at one of our premier hotels. lar. One of the best and oldest examples
The night is built around great music, lively of an ‘open beamed’ ceiling is St. Peter’s,
entertainment and our own brand of fun.
The sunrise send o is an island tradition:
a hearty breakfast of codfish, potatoes
with a side of bananas—Bermuda’s fa-
vourite since the early 1600’s.
Wake up to a Bermuda-full day and watch
the Island arise—it is a chocolate box
scene that owes much to the Island’s ar-
chitecture. The white roofs are a work of
art and a practical water catchment for
household water that are kept white and
clean; the rainwater runs o into the gut-
ters, down into a tank or cistern under the
building which also acts as a solid base for
a solidly built structure.
Architects and builders take pride in
continuing our architectural legacy. The
handsome details of eyebrows, shutters,
hipped roofs and welcoming arms steps
are not just so many ‘frills’ on the birthday ships and sailed up and down the Atlantic
cake but are necessary to alleviate the
wear and tear of our sub-tropical climate.
The Bermuda National Trust’s museum
houses and other ‘show’ houses are a
‘must see’ for anyone interested in the
Island’s architecture. Because shipwrights
built the first houses and did not know
how to construct ceilings, the roof was
exposed and had supporting beams, a
method of construction that is still popu-
Their Majesties Chappell in St. George’s—
the oldest Anglican church in continuous
use outside of the British Isles.
Back then, slaves and free Blacks had
an important part in building our early
rambling homes. Many were taught their
trade by travelling master craftsmen from
overseas who left the cornerstone of a
design legacy behind. The well-trained
Bermuda slaves and indentured servants
became master builders who were a valu-
able asset to their owners. After Emanci-
pation in 1834, the free men filled paid po-
sitions in growing local industries. It was a Island to the other.
time of great change for Bermuda as well
as a time of economic growth.
There is a long and full story to be re-
counted here. The Bermudian masters
were often very wealthy; they owned
coast with a crew that included their own
slaves. The slaves that remained here at
home worked the owner’s land, planting
bananas, potatoes, corn, pumpkins and
onions. Other slaves were sent down to
Turks and Caicos Islands to work the salt
mines—then a highly lucrative business for
their masters.
Bermuda’s African Diaspora Heritage Trail
(ADHT) is an o cially designated UNESCO
Slave Route; it plays an extraordinary role
in conserving and celebrating the origins of
African descent, culture and history in
Bermuda. There are more than fourteen
sites across the Island that are suitably
marked. Visitors should visit them to ap-
preciate the story of our past and to better
understand our Island today.
reNdeZVouS eVeNtS
activities & eNtertaINmeNt
NOVEMBER TO MARCH FOR SOME PEOPLE, one of the best things Bermuda has
Bermuda’s spectacular beauty
to o er is the opportunity to do nothing. Breakfast, a morning
provides the perfect setting for our exploring the Town of St. George, a languid lunch, an after-
unique Bermuda Rendezvous noon at the beach and then a beautiful dinner overlooking the
Activities. These allow you to ocean. A stroll to wind down the day—what could be a greater
experience our Island culture, arts contrast to the stress-driven life? Others, however, are not
and entertainment. Time may even happy unless they’re in motion more or less all the live-long
permit for a game of golf! day. For them, Bermuda is a great place too.
Between the months of Here are the highlights of our busy, busy year: in January and
November and March, this daily February, the Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts brings
programme provides you with a some of the world’s greatest actors, musicians and entertain-
wide range of activities from ers to the Island. The Bermuda Regional Bridge Tournament
guided tours to Bermuda Gombey and the Bermuda Marathon Weekend keep the Island buzzing.
dancing, glassblowing to cooking.
Most of the daily activities are free In March, we host the Bermuda International Film Festival and
and take place from one end of the a visit from the Harvard Hasty Pudding Theatricals troupe.
In April, don’t miss our Easter kite-flying and the three-day
Agricultural Exhibition.
Bermuda Rendezvous Activities
also include a diverse and free May is Heritage Month. We have a one-day Open House and
Lecture Series covering several Garden Party, an End-to-End Walk, a Bermuda Day Parade
aspects of the Bermudian culture and endless festivities.
and traditions and Bermuda
history, each one held in a cultural June sees the Queen’s Birthday Parade and the Native Bermuda
venue on weekdays during Festival. July is famous worldwide for Cup Match, the two-day
November through March. cricket match and endless party that defines our island home
(some years held early August).
HiSTorical rE-EnacTMEnT
In August, as you’d expect, we’re on the water. The Non-Mariners’
Race is a fun event, as are the more upright Bermuda fitted
dinghy races ending the month with a sand sculpting comp–
etition. The fun and excitement continues in September with
numerous golf tournaments.
October brings the PGA Grand Slam of Golf and the Argo
Group Gold Cup Yacht Match Racing. In November, we host the
World Rugby Classic, the SheRox Triathlon and the Goslings
Invitational. The Bermuda Goodwill Golf Tournament kicks o
December. Christmas in Bermuda is a magical time with all
sorts of seasonal events including a boat parade and sensa-
tional New Year’s Eve activities in both the Town of St. George
and City of Hamilton.
So much to do, so little time!
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