Posts tagged British Protectorate
Bluefields and Bluefields Bay – Nicaragua
Feb 28th
Named after the Dutch pirate Henry Bluefeldt who hid out here in the early 1600s, Bluefields is located at the mouth of Rio Escondido where it joins the murky Bluefields Bay on Nicaragua’s eastern shore.
Bluefields is the capital of the South Atlantic Coast Autonomous Region and Zelaya dept; its population is about 42,000 people. Bluefields is the ideal point of departure to visit the Monkey point, El Rama, Corn Islands and many other interesting parks and nature reserves, an ideal destination for the nature lover.
The area around Bluefields was never occupied nor explored by the Spanish conquerors due to the thick forests back then present on the entire Atlantic Coast, forcing the Spanish to use the Pacific area to settle down.
The English did not colonize the area officially either. They did, however, ally with existing tribes and promoted the creation of the Mosuitia Worsens, which was subject to the British crown.
If you don’t want to fly to Bluefields or have enough time, you can go by bus to El Rama; you can get the bus in Managua at the Mayorero bus station. The bus can go no further because this is where the road ends and the marsh begins. From El Rama you must take a small boat that goes down the Escondido River to Bluefields. The complete trip takes about 6 hours by bus and another hour and a half by boat. Total cost is about $15 one way.
Bluefields is Nicaragua’s chief Caribbean port, from where hardwood and seafood, mostly shrimp and lobster, are exported. Bluefields was a rendezvous for English and Dutch buccaneers in the 16th and 17th century and became capital of the British protectorate over the Mosquito Coast in 1678.
During United States interventions (1912-15, 1926-33) in Nicaragua Marines were stationed there. In 1984, the United States mined the harbor (along with those of Corinto and Puerto Sandino). Bluefields was destroyed by Hurricane Joan in 1988 but was rebuilt. The population of Bluefields is mixed mestizo, Indian, and black.
Bluefields is indeed ethnically diverse. There is a wide cross-section of Afro-Caribbean, miskito, suma, garifuna and mestizos,
To reach Bluefields overland it is necessary to travel by road to the town of El Rama. From El Rama you go by launch down the Escondido River to Bluefields on the coast. Bluefields, Puerto Cabezas to the north and the Corn Islands, offshore in the Caribbean from Bluefields, can all be reached by air or by water. Two airlines fly the route from Managua.
Bluefields, and much of the Caribbean coast was hit by the 200-mile an hour winds of Hurricane Joan in October, 1998. Today, the architecture of Bluefields reflects its racial mixture and its colorful past… a mixture of British colonial, West Indian cottages and Louisiana-style plantations. Two of the most colorful carnivals in Nicaragua are in Bluefields.
Also known as the ¡Mayo Ya! Festival, Bluefield’s May Day celebration is unique in Central America, a mixture of the English May pole tradition and local music, folklore and dancing. In North America, this pagan-rooted party is about springtime, fertility, and the reawakening of the earth after a long winter. In Bluefields, May falls on the cusp of the rainy season, and the entire month is a bright burst of colors, parades, costumes, feasting, and, most importantly, dancing around the Maypole.
Every night is a party, and the festival comes to a rip-roaring peak at the end of the month. Look for it every evening May 1-31 (see the Palo de Mayo special topic). Fancy dress parades and all sorts of fun activities are on the program. The Fiesta of San Jerónimo is a similar festival held on September 30.
The image of the Saint is normally installed in the beautiful local church, La Iglesia de San Jeronimo. Ceremonies begin on September 20th with La Bajada de San Jeronimo when the image is removed from its permanent altar and placed on a pedestal that is beautifully decorated with flowers.
The most important of these processions takes place September 30th when nearly fifty thousand devotees from all over Nicaragua get toghether to take part in a mass led by the Archdiocese in San Jeronimo Church. Tourists are often taken aback to see hundreds of devotees rush towards the statue after the mass.
They pray before the image for a personal miracle or to thank the saint for an answered prayer. Eight days later, on October 7th, the image is once again carried out in a procession. This celebration la Octova de San Jero lasts twenty-four hours without interruption. The final festivity is on the first Sunday in December, with Las Tarimas.
Nicaraguan Culture and Art
Dec 24th
Nicaragua’s Culture
Due to the blending of different cultures that took place in Nicaragua resulted in the birth of a creative, varied, happy, and humorous culture. Even if in a vast part of Nicaragua you will find Spanish influences, there are parts that have British influences, but also parts of Nicaragua that have remained faithful to their own culture.
Because the western half of the country was colonized by Spain, the people living there were influenced by the Spanish culture, resulting a similar culture to other Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. Spanish is their first language and they practice Catholicism.
On the other hand, the eastern half of the country was a British protectorate. Therefore, in this part of the country you will find some British influences on the Nicaraguan culture. Most people from these regions still speak English as a first language and the Protestant religion is favored over Catholicism.
However, in the eastern half of the country, you will find a small group, which has remained ethnically distinct from the rest of the country. This group managed to maintain many of their tribal customs and languages. Among these are the Sumos and Ramas people.
Art
Almost all of the art in Nicaragua is found in the form of handicrafts and trades. However, the country has little developed the fine arts and graphics side of human expression, choosing instead to continue to create decorative pieces with a practical value. Today, many of these attractive handicrafts can be found in the form of leatherwork, ceramics and woven garments.
Another important thing you should know about the Nicaraguan art is that there are many native artisans tend to work in clusters where their wares can receive a wide audience and they have a better chance of selling. One of the most famous artisan markets in Nicaragua is the Masaya Market located in the extreme northern reaches of Nicaragua’s mountains.
This mountain village has been populated for more than 3000 years and the village itself is quite interesting to see. The chief craft in Masaya is premium quality hammocks, though there are many other handcrafted goods available for sale here.
While Nicaragua is not generally known for its crafts and art, you can be certain that you will enjoy a wealth of such goods. Many of its goods are exported to other Central American countries because the standards of such goods are excellent. So whether you are looking for a dress, hammock, some leather goods or some ceramics, make sure that you check out the markets and crafters guilds of Nicaragua. You can be sure that you will find some real treasures made with love and passion.
Music and dances
As well as the Nicaraguan culture, the music and dances are a product of the heritage and the mixture of different cultures from indigenous tribes, European conquerors, and African slaves.
The music and dances were born in the different regions of the country. Even though each region has its own traditions, all Nicaraguans consider themselves to share one cultural identity. This is why dances from the Caribbean are danced in the Pacific, and northern dances are just as well performed in the south.
Architecture
Architecture is also incredibly diverse. You will find pondering of the plight of rural citizens living in shacks in various rural areas only to find yourself enjoy the opulence of a high-class, colonial-style hotel only hours later. Almost all of the existing architecture was influenced by the countries history and built largely in one or two architectural styles.
Because Nicaragua was a Spanish colony, you will find many Spanish influence carved on the face of many of Nicaragua’s cities. Even though earthquakes have brought buildings to the ground and civil unrest has resulted in some architectural changes, it is this colonial-style, which still dominates Nicaragua’s architecture in a grand and alluring way. The cities of Granada and Leon are known for their Spanish-Colonial architectural heritage and this is often a featured attraction on tours.
On the other hand, because many of the people in more rural areas are poor, they tend to live in small, crudely made homes with only the most basic facilities. Nevertheless, another facet of architecture in Nicaragua is the striking more modern architecture that is slowly starting to grow in certain cities.
These modern buildings are usually reserved for younger cities or cities which lost much of their heritage to a natural disaster of some sort. Cities with a strong architectural legacy tend to try and maintain a theme when planning the construction of new buildings. While colonial cities enjoy cobbled streets and iron railed walkways, modern cities are lavishly decorated with picturesque palms trees and large grassy areas.
Literature
Poetry has played a massive role in the culture and Nicaraguan literature. Actually, large portions of revolutionary leaders were also writers who had published works, including Tom Borge, the Head of State Security, and the President Daniel Ortega.
