Brief History

The first indigenous inhabitants of Barbados were the Amerindians who had come from Venezuela. They were called the Arawaks, and in 1200 they were conquered by the Caribs. Later Portuguese came to Barbados from Brazil, they called the island Los Barbados (bearded-ones) presumably because the islands fig trees had a beard-like appearance.  From 1625-1644 Barbados was colonized by the British. During the mid-1600s many slaves were brought to Barbados to work on sugar plantations. In the late 1600s, many natural disasters occurred on Barbados, which proved to be bad for the sugar plantations. Slavery was abolished in the year 1834, making better conditions and more opportunities for the people living on Barbados. The country gained its full independence from Britain in 1966.

National Flag

The national flag of Barbados is a vertical tricolor. It has two ultramarine blue stripes on the left and right, and a gold stripe in the middle. The blue represents the sea and sky of Barbados, and the gold represents the sandy beaches. In the center, the flag of Barbados has the trident of the mythical sea god, Neptune.

Geography

Barbados is the easternmost Caribbean country, but it actually doesn’t touch any of the Caribbean sea. It is completely surrounded by the Atlantic ocean. Its closest neighbors are Martinique and Saint Lucia to the northwest, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the west, Trinidad, Tobago, and Venezuela to the southwest, and Guyana to the southeast.

World Land Mass Ranking: 182nd
Highest Mountain: Mount Hillaby, 343 meters (1,115 ft) above sea level
Longest River: No major rivers

 

 

Main Languages

English (official), Bajan, Creole

Barbados Population: 286,641 (as of 2018)
Capital City: Bridgetown
Capital City Population: 110,000 (as of 2014)

Climate

The climate in Barbados is tropical, and it is quite hot and humid year-round. The temperatures are pleasant, usually not rising above mid 80 degrees Fahrenheit (about 30 degrees Celcius), and not going below low 70 degrees Fahrenheit (about 22 degrees Celcius.) Barbados has two seasons, a dry season from around December to May, and a wet season for the rest of the year.

Key People

Rihanna, Garfield Sobers, Irving Burgie, Obadele Thompson

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  Cuisine

  The cuisine of Barbados is very popular, and the country is even considered the culinary capital of the Caribbean. Barbadian cuisine is diverse and has been influenced by African, Portuguese, Indian, Irish, Creole, and British cultures. Barbados is known as the “land of the flying fish” and it is one of the national symbols. The national dish of Barbados is flying fish and cou cou.  Other popular dishes include Cutters (a sandwich made from salt bread), Bajan Macaroni Pie (a pie made with macaroni, cheese, onions, herbs, spices, and ketchup), and Pudding and Souse (pickled pork with spiced sweet potatoes). A variety of seafood, meats, fruits, vegetables, and sauces are also popular in Barbados.

  The picture is a picture of Flying Fish and Cou Cou, the national dish of Barbados.

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  Sports

  Cricket is the most popular sport in Barbados, and is also the national sport. Many great Cricketers have been from Barbados including Garfield Sobers, Frank Worrell, and Everton Weekes. The year-round sunny climate in Barbados makes it a popular place to play Golf. There is even a world-class golf course in Royal Westmoreland. Horse racing, rugby, polo, basketball, and tennis are also popular Barbadian sports. The gorgeous beaches in Barbados make watersports very popular as well. Kitesurfing, Windsurfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, and sailing are all common watersports in Barbados.

  The picture is a picture of polo being played in Barbados

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  Culture

  The culture of Barbados comes from a blend of West African and British cultures. Music and dance are both important in Barbados. The most popular styles of music are calypso, reggae, spouge, and soca, and often contain some elements of indigenous styles. Now contemporary and world music are also popular. Children are exposed to dance at an early age, and it is often a part of the curriculum. Dances are important during various festivals, holidays, and other events. The architecture in Barbados resembles that of Britain, with Jacobean, Georgian, and Victorian styles, although they usually are adapted to better fit the island environment. Religion is an important part of Barbadian life, and 95% of the inhabitants identify as Christian.

  The picture is a picture of the Holetown Festival in Barbados.

  Barbados is a beautiful country with wonderful people.

   

  Download questions about the Barbados here: Barbados (answers are on this page)

  For further reading and more info on the Barbados visit https://kids.kiddle.co/Barbados