Culture

The name Turks has been named after the native Turk's Head "fez" cactus. Caicos is a Lucayan term "caya hico," which actually means string of islands.

The artists in the Turks and Caicos Islands flourish by having the gorgeous land and seascapes as themes for their work of art, drawings, sketches, portrayals and depictions. The colorful characters of the inhabitants proffer several subjects for the creative artists. The basic tools used by them are oil and watercolors and along with that, colorful influences and broad styles of the neighboring Haiti and the Dominican Republic. As a result, an absolutely new style has emerged and is responsible for redefining the scenes, themes and subject matters for the upcoming artists.

The food served in these islands is extremely popular and scrumptious. Some of the most well known dishes include conch Creole, Conch Chowder, Dried Conch, Curried Conch, Cracked Conch, and Conch Fritters. One of the main exports of the country is the Lobster. Amongst the popular drinks in these islands is the Rum punch. It constitutes of orange juice, coconut rum, Lucayan rum, sirop de grenadine and pineapple juice.

The crafts in Turks and caicos include basket weaving, plaiting palm leaves for straw hats, net making, binding mosquito brushes and weaving fanner dishes and bowls. These craftsmen are either found on Middle Caicos or Conch Bar, and sometimes even in Bambarra and Lorimers.

A. Music

Ripsaw Music is the official national music of the Turks and Caicos. ‘Rake ‘n' Scrape' is another name for it. The fundamental instruments used are the saw, the goatskin drum, the hand accordion; also known locally as the Constentina, hand made maracas and the acoustic guitar.

The Lovely Forbes invented a name known as "Combina Music", which was used to describe the new mix of Ripsaw and popular foreign music. Jamaican reggae, Bahamian Calypso and Eastern Caribbean Soca all contribute to the music scene of Turks and caicos.

B. Language

Though the national language of the place is English, certain words are pronounced such that they are specific to the islands.

C. Religious Practices

- Christianity is the main religion practiced in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

- However there are mostly Roman Catholics and Hindus in Turks and Caicos. Anglicans, Muslims, and Presbyterians also form a part of this island.

- The CIA World fact book indicated that as of 1990, 40% were Baptist, 16% Methodist, 18% Anglican, 12% Church of God and 14% belonged to other sects.

- Preceding 1984, Turks and Caicos Islands was a major part of the religious jurisdiction of Nassau, Bahamas.

D. Major Events

January:

This time of the year there is grand celebration on the island for the Junkanoo Junk Up, which is the New Year festivity.

February:

You can enjoy Bob Marley's Birthday Jam with reggae music.

June:

Conch Carnival

Visit this place in the month of June and you can taste some of the best meals. This particular festival of food, music and dancing is visited by many locals and tourists. It is held at the Grand Turk.

July:

Have a nice time at the Provo Summer Festival which is a week long cultural event that leads up to the Miss Turks and Caicos Beauty Pageant.

E. Etiquettes / Do's and Don'ts

Do's

- Bring a nice present when invited to somebody's house for dinner.

- You can dress Informally as it is accepted for most events.

- It is a left hand drive rule on the Turks and Caicos.

- Drive a little carefully at night as there is a lot of pedestrian traffic and there lot of bicycles and mopeds around.

- Do make sure you lock the hotel rooms and doors properly at night.

Don'ts

- Do not take the risk of driving on the beach, as it is prohibited.

- Beware of the surroundings and isolated atmosphere.