Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' culture is strongly linked to that of mostly West Africa, with influences from Portuguese laborers, and French and British settlers together with indigenous Caribs to give Saint Vincent and the Grenadines its vibrant multi-ethnic community.
General etiquette
The country is a socially interesting country with some level of conservativeness but also with outgoing and friendly people. The young generation needs to respect the elderly by all means. Greetings do not involve much contact, although a handshake is normal in business situations. Men do not touch a woman even in greeting unless granted to do so.
Religion
Christianity is the most dominant religion in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Of these 75% are Protestants- Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, 13% are Catholics, 12% comprise of other religious groups including Hindus, and Adventists, to mention but a few.
Food and cuisine
Food and cuisines in Saint Vincent and grenadines are based around seafood, spices, cassava, and many other ingredients which make the country a sanctuary of gastronomical delicacies for locals and foreigners alike. Seafood is obtained fresh from the sea and can be bought right from the fisherman’s nets. Let’s look at some of the food and cuisines you can expect to find on the Islands.
Madongo dumplings- these are made from native arrowroot along with nutmeg and coconut. Madongo dumplings are a delicacy that you can only find here as St Vincent and the Grenadines is the only place that cultivates arrowroot.
Buljol- this is a salad made from shredded cod or salt fish, with pepper, tomatoes, oil, and onions. there are various ways of making this dish. This can be eaten cold, and sometimes eaten for breakfast but this can be subjective to individual preferences.
Callaloo Soup- This is a soup made up of local leaf vegetables and includes ingredients like Garlic, onion, pepper, potatoes, and coconut milk, and sometimes, cassava and yams depending on the recipe. This is said to be very good for health. It can be served at weddings, functions, street food stalls. There are many variations to this soup and other recipes use beef, crab, or chicken as a viable alternative.
Music
Music is very important in everyday life in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Music genres include big drum, calypso, soca, steel pan, and reggae music. One of the most successful and popular musicians from St Vincent and Grenadines is Kevin Lyttle, who was named Cultural Ambassador on the 19th of September 2013. Festivals in the country include the Rhythm & Blues Festival which is a two-day event of soulful Caribbean tunes hosted in March, the Gospel Fest takes place in April as a celebration of traditional Caribbean gospel music.
Sport
The most popular sports in St Vincent and Grenadines include Cricket, rugby, and football. Other sporting codes include netball, basketball, athletics, volleyball, and tennis. The NLA Premier League is the country’s major football league, which supplies the national football team with the most players. The country also participates in the Caribbean Basketball Championships. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national rugby union team is ranked 84th in the world. The country participates in regional and international competitions.
" Its a place to be" - Martin from Canada
