Nightlighters Dance: Caribbean Nights 6/11/2011

Did You Know? - Caribbean Sea (kâr"ibē'un, kurib'ēun) [key], tropical sea, c.970,000 sq mi (2,512,950 sq km), arm of the Atlantic Ocean, Central America. It is bordered on the N and E by the West Indies archipelago, on the S by South America, and on the W by the Central American isthmus. The Caribbean is linked to the Gulf of Mexico by the Yucatán Channel; to the Atlantic by many straits, of which the Windward Channel and Mona Passage are the most important; and to the Pacific Ocean by the Panama Canal. The Magdalena is the largest river entering the sea; Lake Maracaibo is its largest embayment.

Did You Know? - One of the most awesome facts that you'll ever hear about these isles, is that roughly only 2% of the islands are inhabited. Think of the islands that you know & that figure only represents 2% of the total islands that are down there. It is amazing the amount of land, there is down here, only seen and roamed upon by wildlife.

Did You Know? - On his voyage to Asia (the Indies) in 1492, Christopher Columbus had believed that he had in fact arrived at the aforemetioned destination and the region was named West Indies. The name "Caribbean", comes from the Amerindian tribe, the (cannibalistic) Caribs (who were some of this writer's ancestors). The colonization of the islands by the Europeans has left its mark, for there are many structures still existing that are major tourist attractions.

Did You Know? - Most residents of the islands are descendants of African slaves. They were brought to work in sugar plantations and as slavery ended, they remained in the paradise like conditions. The culture, religions and languages of each country / dependency are unique, due to the different monarchies that ruled during the said slavery days. For example, the islands of: Haiti, Martinique and Guadeloupe have a very rich French heritage; while Cuba and Puerto Rico are strongly Spanish based. Religious beliefs also go with the former rulers and ancestors. For instance, in Haiti, voodoo (voodu) is very rampant, because of the African slaves, who brought that form of witchcraft to the West Indies.

Did You Know? - A dance card or programme du bal (also known by its German-language name, Ballspende, plural Ballspenden) is used by a woman to record the names of the gentlemen with whom she intends to dance each successive dance at a formal ball. They appear to have originated in 18th century, but their use first became widespread in 19th century Vienna, especially at the massive balls during Fasching before Lent. Dance engagements card for 11 January 1887, showing a list of all the dances for the evening - valse, polka, lancers and quadrille; opposite each dance is a space to record the name of the partner for that dance. After the event the card was probably kept as a souvenir of the evening

An actual dance card is typically a booklet with a decorative cover, listing dance titles, composers, and the person with whom the woman intended to dance. Typically, it would have a cover indicating the sponsoring organization of the ball and a decorative cord by which it could be attached to a lady's wrist or ball gown. From the 19th century until World War I, dance cards for the elite of Austria-Hungary were often very elaborate, with some even incorporating precious metals and jewels.

In modern times the expression "dance card" is often used metaphorically, as when someone says "pencil me into your dance card," meaning "find some time to spend with me". Conversely, someone's "dance card is full" implies that even though they may be interested, they have no time for another person.

Did You Know? - There are only two seasons in the West Indies. Dry and rainy seasons. The dry season lasts from roughly December to May and it is very hot, breezy and dusty. Then, from June to November is the rainy or hurricane season. At this time, a number of storms and hurricanes develop near the West African coast and make their way across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean. Very dangerous period of time, where some countries are unfortunate to experience these disasters, almost every year, like Grenada and Haiti.

Interesting to note: The Caribbean lies on the Caribbean Plate and it was noted on a news report, that a major earthquake (apart from the one that hit Haiti in January, 2010), that is expected to strike, is 20 years overdue!

Did You Know? - Food in the Caribbean is based on mostly African, Spanish, Chinese, and East Indian, but generally are crossovers of the cuisines from the rest of the world. Spices, peppers and many different types of herbs (seasonings) are heavily used to prepare most meals. Popular dishes here are jerk chicken (Jamaica), fried flying fish (Barbados), general seafood which is prepared in many different ways, and stewed peas and beans, like pigeon peas. Roti, which is East Indian based, contains curries and spices. Callaloo soup, which is made of dasheen leaves, okra (pictured above) and sometimes crabs, is eaten with rice sometimes, and is most prevalent in Trinidad and Tobago.

Did You Know? - Flora and fauna (flowers and animals) are in abundance and wide variety. Dry and moist forests, savannas and mangrove swamps are what covers the lands that are not used by the natives for living on. Many beautiful flowers make their home here; for instance the Bwa Kwaib is the national flower of Dominica, the Bougainvillea of Grenada and the Heliconia of Montserrat (pictured above). Fruit trees can also be found all over the place: like the mango, papaya, orange, banana, guava, pineapple, tamarind and watermelon.

Some of the wildlife in this region are endangered species and as such, are protected by the respective governments of each island. Hunting is permitted, but only at certain times of the year, with the agouti (rodent), iguana, manicou (opossum) among others being hunted. Animals like the manatee (sea cow), Bahamian hutia and Aruba Island Rattlesnake are outright protected from being harmed.

Did You Know? - The main festival that locals and tourists partake of, throughout most of the Caribbean isles would be Carnival. This explosion of color, energy and fun takes place in Dominican Republic, Antigua, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis and Barbados. This festival is varied in the different territories, but one thing remains true. The colorful, lovely costumes and fun! The carnival is the final big party before the penitential season of Lent begins.

Other activities are carried out, with most bearing similarities to Carnival. Crop Over Festival in Barbados, Tumba Festival in Curaçao and even St. Patrick's Day in Montserrat are hosted throughout the year. All carrying deep historical significance.

Did You Know? - Reefs in the Caribbean are 10-15 million years old, young compared to the Pacific ones which are 60-70 million years old

Did You Know? - The largest barrier reef in the Western hemisphere is located within 10-40 miles of Belize mainland and is almost 185 miles long

Did You Know? - The Bahamas - An archipelago of 700 islands and islets (of which around 30 are inhabited), the Commonwealth of the Bahamas attracts more than five times its population in tourists. The visitors are attracted by its magnificent mild climate, splendid beaches and beautiful forests. Strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba.