Celebrate A Caribbean Cultural St. Patrick’s Day On Montserrat
One of the most original places to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is on the beautiful island of Montserrat in the Caribbean. Why does this British Indies nation celebrate the day? There is a lot behind March 17 on Montserrat and it isn’t just about wearing green and drinking Guinness or finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Read on to find out more.
St. Patrick’s Day in Montserrat
The fun holiday of St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in most places of the world where Irish people live. However, one unusual celebration of the Irish holiday is held on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. Meanwhile, visitors from around the world flock to the beautiful island to celebrate a ten-day holiday of revelry, culture and food.
Why does Montserrat celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
The celebration dates back to 1768, when the people of Montserrat tried to overthrow the island’s government, as the leaders were celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at Government House.
According to legend, someone found out about the plot and reported it to the authorities. This led to the rebellion being thwarted.
Encouraging national pride in Montserrat
Fast forward to the 70s, and the local university began organizing lectures about the incident to remember the past. Moreover, the celebrations were later held in St. Patrick’s village and given a set holiday. Meanwhile, the island celebrated its first festival in 1985.
Meanwhile, the celebration is a mixture of color and life, as well as a painful past. In Montserrat, the people do wear traditional Irish green. In fact, they wear the typical St. Patrick’s costumes and more. However, they also bear the imagery of African costuming and broken chains. Moreover, they celebrate the traditional culture of a country remaking itself after much devastation. Also, visitors are welcome to celebrate with the locals on St. Patrick’s Day and beyond.
When is the festival held?
The 2023 St. Patrick’s Festival starts on March 10 and continues until March 19, 2023, in several locations across Montserrat. Find out more about the event by visiting Montserrat’s official tourism website. Readers can also get a glimpse at the celebrations in the video included here.