Culture
Culture
Culture is the way of life of a people living in a particular place over a period of time, usually hundreds of years. Culture determines how people live their everyday life. It is passed on from generation to generation through education, stories and children growing up living the traditions of their ancestors.
Some of the things that make up culture are:
Food - some of the indigenous (dishes that originated in the TCI) foods are:
i. grits and corned beef
ii. grits and peas and fish
iii. boiled fish
iv. hash lobster
v. conch salad
vi. okra and rice
vii. crab and rice
Religion - Christianity is the major religion of the TCI.
Dance - Shay Shay is the traditional dance of the TCI.
Music - the traditional music is rake and scrape.
Festivals - TCI Summer Jam - Grand Turk - June
Salt Cay Pay Back Festival - April
Conch Festival - Providenciales - November
Maskanoo - Providenciales - December
Rake-N-Scrape Festival - North Caicos - June
Fisherman's Day - South Caicos - August
South Caicos Regatta - May
Crab Fest - Middle Caicos - June
Valentine's Day Sailing Cup Race - Middle Caicos - February
Stories/Folklore
National symbols - countries around the world have symbols associated with them.
National Symbols of the Turks and Caicos
National Bird - Brown Pelican
National Tree - Caicos Pine
National Flower - Heather
National Plant - Turks Head Cactus
National Song - This Land of Ours - written by Dr. Conrad Howell
National Anthem - God Save the Queen
National Colours - these colours are found on the national costume created by Mr. David Bowen. They are tan, pink, white, yellow, green turquoise, orange, red
National Flag
Tan represents the island of Middle Caicos. The colour comes from the raw thatch (straw) material that once covered the roofs of houses. Thatch material is also used to make straw hats, baskets and brooms. Middle Caicos is known for the superior quality of craft work done by the native people.
Green represents North Caicos and Parrot Cay. It symbolizes the plants that flourish in the fertile soil of North Caicos. The most successful plantation of the Caicos Islands, Wade's Green Plantation, is located on North Caicos.
Red represents the capital island, Grand Turk. The colour symbolizes the fruit found on the national plant, the Turks Head Cactus. These plants were in abundance in Grand Turk before they were removed to make space for the salt ponds.
Orange represents South and East Caicos. It symbolizes the spiny lobster and fishing industry in the 'Big South'.
Turquoise represents Providenciales, Pine Cay and West Caicos. The colour symbolizes the beautiful turquoise water.
White represents the island of Salt Cay. It symbolizes the salt industry which was a major source of income for people living on Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos - the 3 salt islands.
Pink represents the conch shell, the tall-legged flamingo and the many uninhabited cays that make up the T.C.I.
Yellow represents the sunshine. The year-round sunny weather is important to the tourism industry.
The TCI's national flag is deep blue and has a Union Jack symbol in the top left corner because the country is a British overseas territory. Anyellow shield in the bottom right corner has a queen conch shell, turks head cactus and a spiny lobster. This design of the national flag has been used since 1968.