Bermuda Holidays - Bermudan Trivia

Bermuda holidays are the perfect opportunity to find out more about this unique island paradise in the Atlantic Ocean. Here is a little taster of facts and trivia to get you started:

Bermuda shorts: Most people on Bermuda holidays will, at some point during their holiday on the island, take the plunge and slip on a pair of Bermuda shorts. They have become the national dress of the island, being sported by the country's athletes at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The shorts have become so popular that they are worn by people from all backgrounds on the island - men and women, white collar and blue collar. They can even be worn as formal wear, in darker colours rather than the more usual pastel. The shorts were developed from the hot-weather uniform of the British army.

Pirate haven: Visitors on Bermuda holidays today will have a much easier journey than many in the past did: during the age of colonialism, Bermuda played a central role in the empires of a number of pirates, who liberated gold and cargo from passing ships. An early pirate named Henry Jennings operated from the island. Jennings became a pirate after being hired by the then governor to help him deal with pirates. Jennings and his crew largely attacked French and Spanish vessels in the area, and he was one of few pirates who managed to outlive the pirate life and go into retirement.

Jamestown Exodus: Those on Bermuda holidays will arrive on the island in good health looking forward to a perfect holiday, but some of their predecessors weren't so lucky. Bermuda was initially colonised by the occupants of a ship on their way to Jamestown. The Sea Venture, Admiral Sir George Somer's ship, was wrecked during a storm, with survivors finding shelter on the island. It took them a year to build two more ships, which they christened the Deliverance and the Patience. They then made the journey to Jamestown. Once they arrived they were appalled by what they found. The population had dwindled to almost 10% of the original following a savage winter, and food had run out. It was decided to abandon the colony and head back to Bermuda, taking a detour to catch fish to sustain them for the journey.

A few others... A few last trivial facts to leave you with...

Bermuda is the oldest British colony;

Codfish and potatoes is the traditional Bermudan breakfast;

Kite flying is customary on Good Friday, where people gather together and fly homemade kites.  John T. Dixon