Crop Over Celebrations: The Origins of the Festival

It is CROP OVER season in Barbados!

The origins of celebrating the end of the harvest was born out of or tied to agricultural traditions within the British Empire, which historically in the British slave states signified the end of the harvesting of the sugar cane crop for the season and heralded the beginning of the CELEBRATIONS!!!  In modern times, here in Barbados the tradition continues.  The island is a-buzz with activity, as visitors flock to the island in mass, to actively become a part of the season’s offerings.  Music, food, cultural exhibits, sand, sea, sun, … all culminate to create an exciting atmosphere. The calypso music and its scintillating vibes have become the nucleus of the festival, and along with the other associated events, the social and cultural atmosphere is  stimulated until early August.

Old Traditions Transferred and Adopted

Celebrating the end of the harvest is tradition across the world back to antiquity.  From the days of slavery, at this time of the year, guided by the centrality of the ‘crop season,’ traditionally post-harvest celebrations would be held on the plantations.  This festive atmosphere saw the slaves indulge in traditional dancing, as well as some drinking and eating.  This celebration was known as the Harvest Home Festival in the English tradition and became a part of the cultural practices of the British West Indian islands.  Additionally, African traditions were also celebrated after harvesting and the Yam Festivals of West Africa would be one such custom.  So that the enslaved in Barbados were well acquainted with festivities being held at the end of harvest.

Rebirth of the Festival

By 1940 the ‘Crop Over’ festivities in Barbados “… was being described as a custom which has very nearly died out,” this as a result in decline of sugar production, as well as the tie to plantation life.  However, the modern Crop Over Festival in Barbados was restarted in 1974 by a Committee of the Board of Tourism, intended to increase visitor arrival to the island.  Over the intervening years the festival has been given new life and has become the premiere festival on the island’s annual calendar.