Interesting Facts About St. Vincent & The Grenadines

• The country has a tropical climate with temperatures averaging around 28oC (nearly 82oF) year-round with very few seasonal temperature variations. The rainy season is between May and November, which is also part of the hurricane season for the region.
• The national motto is Peace and Justice.
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is made up of 32 islands and cays. Of them all, nine are inhabited.
• The main inhabited islands of the Grenadines that are not privately owned include Canouan, Bequia, Union Island, and Mustique.
• Of all the uninhabited islands, the Tobago Cays are probably the best, which also make for dreamy dive sites for scuba diving and snorkelling enthusiasts. They are also fantastic spots for kiteboarding and many other water sports.
• The first three “Pirates of the Caribbean” films have multiple scenes filmed in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
• Traffic is on the left-hand side of the road, and the highest travel speed on the road is set at 48 kilometres or 30 miles per hour. Be careful when driving here, though, as the local drivers will not hesitate to stop in the middle of the road to buy fresh vegetables from the food stall across the road!
• The country is home to the Saint Vincent Botanic Gardens, which have been conserving rare species of plants since 1765, when the gardens were formed, and are considered among the oldest in the Western Hemisphere.
• The waters around the country are home to over 225 fish species, including whales and sharks.

Facts About the Names & Nicknames of St. Vincent & The Grenadines

• The country got its current name from Christopher Columbus, who reached Saint Vincent island in 1498 and named it in tribute to Saint Vincent Saragossa, a Spanish saint. As for the Grenadines, which means pomegranates, they potentially got that name because of the small islands that dot the nearby region.
• Meanwhile, the early inhabitants of the country, the Caribs, called the nation “Hairoun,” translated as the Land of the Blessed.
• Finally, the capital of the country, the town of Kingstown, is also called the “city of the arches,” primarily for having buildings featuring around 400 arches.

National Animals and Flag Details

The Saint Vincent parrot is the national animal, while Saint Vincent and The Grenadines flag is blue, gold, and green, with the Gems of Antilles in the middle. The blue colour represents the sea and the sky, gold symbolizes the golden sand and the sunshine of the Grenadines, and the green represents the abundant vegetation across the country. As for the centered Gems of Antilles, they are placed in a “V” shape which represents Saint Vincent.

Culture

With strong influences from the indigenous Caribs, along with West Africa, French, Portuguese, and British cultures, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines is a brimming, multi-ethnic community.

General Etiquette

Some level of conservatism is anticipated from interacting with the locals, despite them being very friendly, outgoing, and hospitable. You will notice how respected the elderly are by the young generations and how greetings are polite, involving minimal contact. Also, a man will never touch a woman, even in greeting, without permission from the woman.

Religion

Most Saint Vincentians are Christians, 75% of which are Protestants (47% Anglicans and 28% Methodists), while 13% are Catholics and 12% are other religions, such as Adventists and Hindus.

Food and Cuisine

As you might have guessed, fresh seafood from the sea is a major part of the local cuisine also cassava, spices, and many other ingredients. Besides Roasted Breadfruit & Fried Jackfish, which is the national dish, you may also want to give your palate royal treatment with flavours like madongo dumplings made from native arrowroot, buljol salad made from salt fish or cod, and callaloo soup consisting of local leaf vegetables and prepared in various ways, with chicken, crab, beef, or other alternative recipes. Paired with a local beer or rum punches, the local gastronomy feels like taking your taste buds to a foodie’s spa!

Music Tradition

Music is a huge part of the local culture and a significant component of everyday life here. Expect lots of music festivals entertaining locals and visitors alike throughout the year. This includes the 2-day Rhythm & Blues Festival in March and the Gospel Fest in April, where soulful Caribbean tunes and traditional Caribbean gospel music, respectively, are celebrated in various fun ways.

The most popular music genres in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are reggae, steel pan, soca, calypso, and bug drum music, while a famous and very successful local musician (namely Kevin Lyttle) was even named Cultural Ambassador in 2013!

Popular Sports

The islanders seem to love cricket, which is expected from a Caribbean island! Then come rugby, football, and some lesser popular sports, such as tennis, volleyball, basketball, and netball. The major football league in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is the NLA Premier League, which is an incubator for most national football team players. That aside, the country also participates in international and regional rugby competitions (its national rugby team is quite highly ranked worldwide at the moment of this writing) and even participates in the Caribbean Basketball Championships!

Other Facts About St. Vincent & The Grenadines

• The country has 7 ports of entry and five airports to cater to the needs of the tens of thousands of travellers that visit its shores annually.
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has been consistently ranked as a top honeymoon destination in the Caribbean, winning numerous awards in the category over the years.
• The Soufriere volcano is active and means “Sulphur Mine” in French. It erupted in the early 1900s and almost wiped out the Caribbean culture. Its next eruption, in 1979, was not as devastating and gave the locals time to evacuate their homes. After 42 years, the volcano recently erupted again in April 2021.
• There are tons of things to do, see and visit in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from diving, snorkelling, trekking, and mountain climbing, to wandering breathtaking gardens, exploring the lush inland, sunbathing on sugary shores, discovering volcanic-sand beaches, following the Vermont Nature Trail, and many more!