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GUADELOUPE LANGUAGES SPOKEN
*LANGUAGES :FRENCH and CREOLE
Even if the administrative documents and official exchanges are in French, on a daily basis Guadeloupeans mainly speak Creole.
This language based on the French lexicon is a reflection of history, a mixture of several European, African and Amerindian languages. Indeed, the lexicon of the Creole language is 90% made up of words of French origin.
The remaining 10% of vocabulary comes from African and Amerindian languages.
GUADELOUPE NATIONAL PARK BASSE-TERRE
OX PULLING COMPETITIONS
The ox-pulling competitions put oxen competing in pairs and having to tow a convoy whose weight can reach 1400 kg. They must climb as quickly as possible the top of a hilly track. This competition is an opportunity to test the bravery and tenacity of these animals and to promote the Creole breed.
Competitions generally take place at the end of the sugar cane season, from July to February.
An emblematic wild animal of Guadeloupe which is found mainly in the forests and wetlands of the Guadeloupe National Park on the island of Basse-Terre. On the island of Grande-Terre, it is found mainly in the mangroves.
AMERINDIAN ENGRAVED ROCKS
GUADELOUPE MUSIC
Traditional music from Guadeloupe par excellence, the gwo-ka is played with drums called “ka”.
The gwo-ka was born during the period of slavery, the drums were originally dug in hollowed out tree trunks.
This music therefore has a very strong African imprint.
It's not just music, it's the alliance of dance, song and music. It rythms most of the popular gatherings.
It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage
The "Roches Gravées" archaeological park is home to 22 rocks containing no less than 230 engravings. The engravings represent faces, bodies, animals and geometric shapes. The rocks were engraved by the Arawak Amerindians, the first inhabitant of Guadeloupe.
It is the place in the West Indies where we find the most engraved rocks.
GUADELOUPE CARNIVAL
SLAVERY MUSEUM
Carnival is the most famous annual festival and certainly the liveliest. From the Sunday following the Epiphany in January, until Ash Wednesday, all of Guadeloupe lives to the rhythm of parades.
"Memorial Acte" is a museum dedicated to the memory of the slaves of Guadeloupe and offers a permanent collection from the history of slavery until today. A part is dedicated to genealogy so that Guadeloupeans can find their various origins.
The MACTe also hosts temporary exhibitions and a program of cultural shows.
The highest peak in Guadeloupe, "La Soufrière", is an active volcano culminating at 1,467 meters.
GUADELOUPE MAIN NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
* Christmas
During the Christmas period, families and friends get together for "Chanté Nwel", an opportunity to sing nativity songs and christians celebreations.
*Carnival
After the end-of-year holiday periods, January carnival rehearsals begin.
Carnival groups parading through the streets every Sunday afternoon until Mardi Gras.
Mardi-Gras is the big parade party where the carnival groups compete for the best costumes, best music or best choreography exhibition programs imposed by the carnival committees.
The next day, Ash Wednesday, the day that ends the carnival, the mascot of the carnival king nicknamed Vaval is burned, which marks the end of the festivities, everyone parades in black and white (to mark Vaval's mourning), and then begin the forty days of Lent.
The predominantly Catholic population respects this period. But, giving up the great follies until "Mid-Lent Thursday", a parade in red and black is manifested therefore with groups of musicians preceded by people parading, is organized
*Easter
After this period of madness, it is the Easter celebrations, during which families go camping for several days on the beach or along the river and eat the traditional crab-based dishes: matété (rice cooked with crab), calalou (crabs with dashing leaves with white rice) or crab dombrés (small flour balls cooked with crab.
*May 1 - Labor Day
Traditionally the day of many union and political demonstrations.
*May 8 -Victory Day 1945
Commemoration of the German surrender and the end of the Second World War in which many local Guadeloupeans fought for France
*May 27
Commemoration of the abolition of slavery in 1848
*Ascension Thursday
Christian holiday
*Pentecost Sunday
Christian holiday
*July 14th
National Day to Commemorate the French Revolution of 1789 putting an end to royalty
*July 21 Victor Schoelcher Day
Commemoration of the birth of deputy Victor Schoelcher, one of the actors in the abolition of slavery
*August 15 Assumption
Catholic holiday
*November 1 -All Saints
Catholic holiday
*November 2 Day of the Dead
Feast of the Catholic Church.
*November 11
Armistice of world war 1918