7 Reasons Why Junkanoo Should Be on Your Bucket List

I was born in the Bahamas so I know all about Junkanoo. I also know that people make a bucket list of all the things they want to do before they get old or die, which is understandable. It might give them a purpose in life. They make their list and focus on it. It helps guide them towards new experiences in life and it also helps them set a goal in life. And that is why I believe that traveling to the Bahamas and being a part of Junkanoo should definitely be on their list. So, I’m going to give you 7 reasons why you should add Junkanoo to your bucket list.

The first reason is the costumes. From my understanding, ages ago, costumes were made using scrubs, stones, leaves, bottles, and paper. And they still came out looking amazing. Today they're made using cardboard, crepe paper, aluminum rods, tie wire, contact cement, and lots of glue. And they look even better. You can have your costume designed and made however you want. The second reason is the vibrant colors. The big bold colors of the costumes are to die for. You can have your costumes made using as many colors as you want. And to add more to it, there is also the make-up and jewelry. The brighter and bigger you go the better.

The third reason is the food. The most tasty food you’ll ever eat. A list of foods you should definitely try when going to the Bahamas: Lobster, shrimp, crab, conch salad, and more. You can’t go wrong on fresh seafood that comes straight from the ocean. They're also known for their drinks. Such as fruit juices, coconut water, lemonade, goombay punch, goombay smash, planters punch, triple B, rum punch, sky juice, yellow bird, and, of course, gin. The fourth reason is the people, yes the people. Very friendly and funny people. They’ll make sure you’re having the best time when you’re out there. They’ll be more than happy to show you around and tell you all the amazing places you should visit before leaving.

The fifth reason is the music, obviously lol. They're known for using instruments to make music such as foghorns, bicycle horns, drums, cowbells horns, whistles, and, the most popular one, the conch shell. Which takes me to the sixth reason, dancing. Junkanoo is known for dancing. That’s mostly what the parade consists of. You can either make up your choreography or just dance to the beat. Which brings me to the final reason, singing. The songs are easy to remember. Their most popular one is rake and scrape. “Rake-n-scrape is the deep sound of Bahamian goombay musical tradition, a marker of Bahamian national identity, and a source of joy and community celebration.” It’s a simple heel to toe movement, or what they’ll like to call the conch step. It’s easy to learn and the song is pretty catchy.

To end this all, I believe we should all try things that are outside of our culture. You’ll learn to be outside of your comfort zone more which is great, you’ll start to build confidence, you’ll make a lot of new friends, you might learn a few different languages and you’ll create memories of a lifetime. Which is why you won’t regret traveling to the Bahamas. I also forgot to mention their beaches. Beautiful, clear beaches. Don’t forget to visit the Atlantic Ocean when you are over there. But, all in all, when you are at Junkanoo, it will gave you a long, lasting memory of the true meaning of fun and laughter.