If you ask the locals about Barbados, they will tell you it is famous for its national dish, flying fish and cou cou. But there is more to it that most people are still unaware of.
I’ll help you explore some fun and interesting facts about Barbados that take us both deep into their culture, traditions, and people.
1. Attention, Rum Lovers! Barbados is the Birthplace of Your Favorite Alcoholic Beverage
Barbados is the island where rum originated. To be particular, Mount Gay Distilleries of Barbados is churning out rum since the year, 1703. They produce the oldest rums all over the world.
There are many more distilleries in Barbados and more than 1500 rum shops to give you a variety of rum mixes to satisfy your taste buds.
2. The Terror of the Pirates in Barbados
Yes, pirates were a real thing in human civilization, and Barbados has witnessed its wrath throughout history.
It is not just a story for a good movie plot, as at one point, pirates did dominate the seas of this region and terrorized the ships in the area.
Two of the most notorious pirates were Stede Bonnet and Sam Lord. The locals will tell you their stories if you ask them.
3. The ‘Crop Over’ Celebration
Crop Over is a big deal in Barbados and is a popular Caribbean carnival celebration. The celebration begins with the season’s last sugar cane harvest.
The celebration dates back to the colonial era but is a prime party festival for the people of Barbados.
4. Barbados has the Highest Repeat Visitor Rate
You can never get enough of Barbados.
Barbados hosts around 2.8 million tourists every year. And the repeat visit rate in the country stands at 39%, the highest among all other Caribbean countries.
5. Barbados is Below the Hurricane Belt
You must have heard about Caribbean countries being riddled with storms and natural disasters, which probably makes you cautious about planning a vacation anywhere in the region.
But that’s not at all the case with Barbados. The country is situated in the lower-east part of the Caribbean, also referred to as part of the Lesser Antilles. Therefore, it is below the hurricane belt.
Barbados hasn’t experienced a single storm in more than 50 years. So, you can keep the fear of storms and natural disasters aside while planning your vacation here.
6. Barbados Experiences Just Two Seasons Every Year
Unlike most other countries, Barbados witnesses just two seasons every year.
A wet season commences in the month of June and lasts till December. And a dry season commences from December through May.
7. The Literacy Rate in Barbados is 97%
Now, this is a fact that is more interesting than fun. The people of Barbados have followed the ingrained Christian principles for a long time in history.
Are you wondering what it is? It is a free educational system that enables the country to hold a literacy rate of 97% and is one of the highest in the world.
8. Barbados Flag Design Was Chosen for a Competition
The flag design of Barbados was picked as a result of a competition organized by the country’s officials.
There were thousands of enrollments in the competition, but the design by Grantley Prescod was finally chosen to be used as the national flag. As an added fun factor, Grantley’s design was a last-minute entry into the competition.
How proud would one feel to see his suggested design being used as his country’s national flag?
9. Legal Age for Drinking Alcohol in Barbados is 18 Years
Barbados allows its people to consume alcohol right after they hit 18 years of age, so many teenagers look forward to buying and consuming liquor independently. Previously it was 16 years old.
However, children between the age of 10 and 17 can freely consume alcohol, with the condition that a parent accompanies them.
10. Barbados is Home to Green Monkeys
Unlike other Caribbean islands where you rarely find monkeys, Barbados is home to a specific species called Green Monkeys.
This monkey species was brought to Barbados from Gambia and Senegal in West Africa 350 years ago.
Today, they can even pop up in people’s gardens and are very easy to see in Barbados.
11. Cricket is the National Sport of Barbados
Some of the top international cricketers started their journey from Barbados. Some of those big names are Desmond Haynes, Sir Everton Weekes, Gordon Greenidge, Sir Clyde Walcott, Charlie Griffith, and Sir Frank Worrell.
Locals cherish this sport, and you will find them playing cricket all year round and in all places in Barbados. Whether it is beaches, cricket fields, or streets, you will see this sport being loved all around the country.
12. Mongoose Crossing Your Path in Barbados is a Sign of Good Luck
Mongoose was originally imported to Barbados from India to get rid of the rat problems in the country’s sugar cane fields.
Over time, locals started seeing mongoose as a sign of good luck every time it crossed their path.
13. Barbados Is The Land of Flying Fish
Barbados is home to flying fish. You will often see them gliding around the Barbados waters all around the country.
They are gifted with the ability to glide in the air for up to 45 seconds and at a maximum speed of more than 70km/hr.
They are also a popular catch in the country and are eaten by the locals as the popular national Barbadian dish, cou cou and flying fish.
14. In the Past, Being “Barbado’ed” was a Punishment
“Barbado’ed” is the term that refers to the deportation of someone to Barbados as punishment.
Between 1640 to 1650, people considered enemies of the crown were banished from the country and sent to Barbados to serve as the first slaves of the island.
15. Barbados is Proud to Have a 1,000-year Old Tree in Their Country
In Queens Park, Bridgetown, you will find the majestic 1,000-year-old tree. It will not be easy for you to let it go out of sight.
To give you a general idea of how big it is, you must know that it would take 15 adults to outstretch their hands to cover the circumference of this tree’s trunk.