Ready for the Parade

"Ready for the Parade", Painting by Alton R. Lowe

When I was a young boy, one of the most exciting days of the year was New Year's Day because it meant Junkanoo! To this day it spells excitement, the noise of drums and horns and the clank of cowbells.

Weeks before parade day, our fathers (and mothers) would work on our costumes. Crape paper came in colourful bundles from Nassau on the mailboat. Hard work and imagination produced wonderful costumes. Grownups and children all participated.

On that day we were one huge happy family, excited to show off the weeks of work needed to make the elaborate costumes. The parade went through the village and to this day is still the highlight of our Christmas festivities.

This painting portrays a young Bahamian boy’s first time “rushing” on Green Turtle Cay’s annual parade. To be part of the dancing and parading is still a magical way to spend the day. - Alton