Heritage news
Holy daysAssociation of Indo Americans Hosts Dussehra Diwali Dhamaka 2026 in PleasantonWeddingsA love story across continents ends in a packed Vietnamese village weddingCarnivalCelebrate Native American Day in Tulsa with concert, parade and moreWeddingsAlmost two thirds of Brighton would opt for a ‘phone-free’ weddingWeddingsTill death do us part: Halloween puts a spooky spin on Las Vegas weddingsTableFrom the royal table to street food, Cambodian chefs reviving Khmer culinary heritageCarnivalMiami Carnival brings Caribbean pageantry, cultural celebration to Central Broward ParkFestivals50 years of the Red River Revel: How a one-time celebration became a Shreveport traditionHoly daysBallston Quarter Diwali Celebration: Date, Activities And DetailsSeasonsHarvest festivalHoly daysAssociation of Indo Americans Hosts Dussehra Diwali Dhamaka 2026 in PleasantonWeddingsA love story across continents ends in a packed Vietnamese village weddingCarnivalCelebrate Native American Day in Tulsa with concert, parade and moreWeddingsAlmost two thirds of Brighton would opt for a ‘phone-free’ weddingWeddingsTill death do us part: Halloween puts a spooky spin on Las Vegas weddingsTableFrom the royal table to street food, Cambodian chefs reviving Khmer culinary heritageCarnivalMiami Carnival brings Caribbean pageantry, cultural celebration to Central Broward ParkFestivals50 years of the Red River Revel: How a one-time celebration became a Shreveport traditionHoly daysBallston Quarter Diwali Celebration: Date, Activities And DetailsSeasonsHarvest festival
EveryParampara

Traditions of Nassau

The capital of The Bahamas, where Junkanoo rushes through the streets on Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Nassau is a Caribbean port on New Providence island. Junkanoo is the Bahamas' great festival, a dawn parade on 26 December and 1 January in which groups in elaborate costume of crepe paper, accompanied by cowbells, goat-skin drums and horns, compete for prizes. The festival has roots in the African heritage.

Junkanoo

Groups spend months building costumes of cardboard and crepe paper, in themes. The parade begins at 2 a.m. along Bay Street, and the rhythm is made by cowbells, whistles, brass and drums, called rush. The origin is traced to enslaved people's days off at Christmas. Emancipation Day in August is another celebration.

At the table

Cracked conch, fried conch in batter, conch salad with lime, and peas 'n' rice are the staples. Guava duff, a boiled pudding with rum sauce, is a favourite dessert. Johnnycake, a thick bread, is served at breakfast. Sky juice, coconut water with gin and condensed milk, is the drink.

Signature traditions of Nassau

JunkanooThe festival.Rake-and-scrapeThe music.

Also part of it, and being written: Conch fritter (The dish.), Guava duff (The dessert.).

A trail idea for Nassau

  1. Arawak Cay Eat conch.
  2. Straw Market Buy plaited work.
  3. Fort Charlotte See the fort.
About this page

Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

KindSpiritualFestivalRite of passageTable customSeasonalDressPerformanceEtiquetteCraftGameFolkloreHomeCeremony
MealBreakfastLunchDinnerSupperTea-time and snacking customsTea, coffee and drinking ceremoniesSweets given and sharedFeasts and festival mealsFasting and breaking the fast
🇧🇸 Nassau, BahamasRake-and-scrape A traditional Bahamian music style featuring saws, guitars and drums.Performance

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly EveryParampara

Every week: one tradition from somewhere new, what is being celebrated around the world this week, and one idea explained.