THE 5 MOST POPULAR FESTIVALS OF THE ISLAND REGION - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The festivities of the insular region, thanks to racial mixtures, are the main reason for visiting this region of tourists who have visited the islands in recent years.

In this region festivals are celebrated that enhance the musical and gastronomic attributes present in every corner.

Dances and contests cover the region to show those present the pride that the locals feel for their roots and origins.

The most popular festivals in the region are those of the green moon, the crab festival, the reign of the coconut, the patron saint festivities of San Andrés, the celebration of the Colombian independence party, the day of the race, among other festivals. that fill these Caribbean islands with visitors.

Main festivals of the island region

The Crab Festival

It is the largest festival on the islands and the one that attracts the most people each year.

It has the participation of tourists and locals who enjoy the music, typical dances of the region and the gastronomy.

As it is the crab, the dishes presented are based on this animal. Various types of rice, snacks, cakes, croquettes are made with it, among hundreds of other recipes.

To enjoy this delicious festival, you must visit San Andrés the first week of January every year.

The Green Moon Festival

This festival is recent, barely three decades old.

It was born on May 21, 1987 and was held every year, until in 1995 it suffered a hiatus and in 2012 its celebration was resumed. Now it takes place between the months of September and October, but its essence is the same.

It is a cultural festival dedicated to enhancing the islands' African customs, although little by little customs from other Caribbean islands have crept in.

It lasts a week and during its course, visitors can learn about the history of the region through sports, cinematographic pieces, dances and music.

The gastronomy does not stop being present. The festival was born with the slogan of "a fraternal embrace in the form of race and culture."

The Reign of the Coconut

On November 30 of each year, the day of San Andrés is commemorated, who is the patron saint of the region that makes up the island of San Andrés y Providencia.

The celebration usually lasts three days, during which the regional government organizes activities to enjoy the gastronomy of the region, based entirely on recipes that have to do with coconut.

In addition, there are choir meetings, typical music and dance groups, which enliven the election of the coconut queen.

Different women from different areas of San Andrés participate in the contest. The event has become so important that women from different countries close to the region have joined, such as Nicaragua, Costa Rica, among other neighbors.

July 20, celebration of the independence of Colombia:

On this day, the youth take over the streets through the schools and educational institutions of the region to celebrate the independence of their nation with dance, music and lots of color.

Day of race

It is in the island region where the history of colonization is made most tangible, since cultural diversity is present in all its inhabitants.

That is why every October 12 the coexistence and cultural encounter between blacks, mulattos, Afro-Colombians, Raizales, gypsies and indigenous people who share the gastronomy, music and dances of the area is commemorated.

Some of the islands were a slave reservoir for some time, so African Americans in the region especially welcome this holiday with glee.

References

1. Cultural, CP (23 of 10 of 2017). Island region. Obtained from colombiapatrimoniocultural.wordpress.com
2. DANE, C. d. (23 of 10 of 2017). Population distribution in the territory and Urban-Regional relations. Obtained from geoportal.dane.gov.co
3. Escobar, CP (1997). TO THE RHYTHM OF OUR FOLKLOR. Bogotá: Editorial San Pablo.
4. Geographical, IG (1986). Basic Atlas of Colombia. California: The Institute.
5. Kline, HF (2012). Historical Dictionary of Colombia. Maryland: Scarecrow Press.