Culture of Saint Martin

The culture of St. Martin is a blend of its African, French, British, and Dutch heritage. Although St. Martin is a single island, it contains two separate nations: Saint-Martin, a French overseas collectivity; and Sint Maarten, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Although each side's culture is influenced by their respective administering countries, they share enough similar heritage and traditions that it can be difficult to tell where Saint-Martin ends and Sint Maarten begins.

The native Creole population can trace most of their roots to Africa, France, the Netherlands and the British Isles. Only some stones remain from the ruins of the two forts built by the Spanish occupation in its early take over. But during the colonial period, the British settlers and several military dominations left their idiom as the main language spoken on the island, and have made a large impact on St. Martin's culture.

Nowadays, due to a major influx of immigrants searching for better employment and living conditions, over the past twenty years the number of Creoles has been surpassed by the number of immigrants. Today, the island's population of 69,000 is truly a melting pot of people from 70 or more different countries.

With so many different nationalities present, quite a few languages are spoken. An English-based creole is the local dialect. However, the official languages are French for Saint-Martin, with Dutch and English being official for Sint Maarten. Other common languages include various French creoles (spoken by French Caribbean immigrants), Spanish (spoken by immigrants from the Dominican Republic), and Papiamento (spoken by immigrants from Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao).

In French Saint-Martin, the most popular religion is Roman Catholicism. Dutch Sint Maarten favors Protestant denominations, particularly Methodism. The island also has small Jewish and Seventh-day Adventist communities.

Perhaps in part due to French influences, the whole island is known for its excellent cuisine. Creole, French, and West Indian cooking are particularly renowned. Chefs trained in Europe elevate restaurant cuisine to gourmet level. Of course, with the diverse nationalities, plenty of international fare is cooked up.

Popular music on St. Martin includes a variety of styles beloved throughout the Caribbean. Calypso, merengue, soca, zouk, and reggae all contribute to the festive culture.

Leading cultural artists

• Isidore "Mighty Dow" York, kaisonian, panman
• Roland Richardson, Impressionist painter
• Nicole de Weever, dancer, broadway star
• Lasana M. Sekou, poet, author, independence advocate
• Clara Reyes, choreographer
• King Timo, kaisonian
• Tanny and The Boys, string band music group

An annual yacht race called Sint Maarten Heineken Regatta is also held on around March.

See also

• Saint Martin, the Caribbean island.
• Saint Martin (France), the overseas collectivity of Saint-Martin.
• History of St. Martin
• List of Sint Maarten governors.
• O sweet Saint-Martin's Land (bi-national song/anthem of Saint-Martin/Sint-Maarten )

Further reading

• Arrindell, Rhoda. Language, Culture, and Identity in St.Martin. House of Nehesi Publishers, 2014. ISBN 9780988825222.
• Badejo, Fabian Adekunle. Salted Tongues – Modern Literature in St.Martin. House of Nehesi Publishers, 2003. ISBN 0-913441-62-7.
• Houston, Lynn Marie (2005). Food Culture in the Caribbean. Greenwood Press, 2005. ISBN 0-313-32764-5.
• Hyman, Yvette. From Yvette's Kitchen to Your Table – A Treasury of St. Martin's Traditional & Contemporary Cuisine. House of Nehesi Publishers, 2011. ISBN 978-0-913441-16-9.
• Lake, Jr., Joseph. Friendly Anger – The Rise of the Labor Movement in St. Martin. House of Nehesi Publishers, 2004. ISBN 0-913441-41-4.
• Sekou, Lasana M. National Symbols of St. Martin – A Primer. House of Nehesi Publishers, 1997. ISBN 0-913441-30-9.
• St. Martin Massive! A Snapshot of Popular Artists. House of Nehesi Publishers, 2000. ISBN 0-913441-43-0.
• Voges, Mathias S. Cul-de-Sac People – A St. Martin Family Series. House of Nehesi Publishers, 2006. ISBN 0-913441-70-8.
• Watts, David (1990). The West Indies: Patterns of Development, Culture, and Environmental Change Since 1492. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-38651-9.