The culture of Antigua and Barbuda is a classic example of creole culture. The locals are quite religious, and the Christian holidays are celebrated widely. The following holidays and traditions add depth and excitement to the lives of locals and to the vacation experience
Sunday 11 May -
Mother’s Day (Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bonaire, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Dem. Rep., Congo, Rep., Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Gabon, Gambia, Greenland, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
St. John’s is the capital and largest city of Antigua and Barbuda, located on the northwest coast of Antigua (it is pronounced: An-TEE’ ga! It is also known as “Waladii or Wadadii” by the native population). Antigua is Spanish for “ancient” and Barbuda is Spanish for “bearded”. The country is nicknamed “Land of 365 Beaches” due to the many beaches surrounding the islands.
The official language is English. The national dish is fungie and pepper pot. Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda are known as Antiguans or Barbudans, depending on which island they are from. Antiguans love cricket. Cricket is the national sport. To quote a local, Cricket in Antigua “is more of a religion than a mere sport.”
Mount Obama is the highest point: The name was changed from Boggy Peak in 2009 to honor United States President Obama.
People in Antigua sometimes can be really serious and careless at the same time. The locals have never heard the saying “slow and steady wins the race”, so they drive as if they don’t want to live anymore and practically don’t respect the traffic rules at all.
There are festivals in country for any taste all year round: Yacht week, a triumphant summer Carnival, October Jazz festival, a horse show, cricket, badminton, and water model sports tournaments, Caribbean comedy festival, Wadadly Cultural Extravaganza, Police Week, Crafts Market.