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Guadeloupe

16 15'N 61 35'W / 16.25, 61583

Guadeloupe
Coat of Arms
Details 		logo
LocationGuadeloupe.png
Administration
Country Flag: France France
Code Department 971
Prefecture Basse-Terre
Sub-prefecture (s) Pointe--Pitre
Districts 2
Townships 40
Commons 32
Regional Council Regional Council of Guadeloupe
President
Mandate 		Victorin Lurel - PS
2004 - 2014
General Council General Council of Guadeloupe
President
Mandate 		Jacques Gillot - GUSR
2001 - 2011
Prefect Jean-Luc Fabre
Official language French
Language (s) region (s) Creole
Demography
Population 404 394 inhab. (2010)
Density 248 inhabitants / km 2
Demonym Guadeloupean / enemies
Geography
Area 1 628.43 km
Time Zone UTC -4
Internet domain . Gp
Calling code +590
See physical map
See the administrative map

Guadeloupe in Creole ) is both a region monodepartmental of the French overseas and an outermost region Europe, located in the Americas , his official department code is " 971. "

This small archipelago of the Antilles located in the Caribbean Sea , lies about 6700 km from mainland France , 600 km off the northern coast of South America , 700 km east of the Dominican Republic and 2 200 km southeast of the United States. In addition, it consists of a multitude of islands, six of which are inhabited: the Grande-Terre , the Basse-Terre , Marie-Galante , Terre-de-Haut , Terre-de-Bas and Desirade.

The Guadeloupe takes its current name Royal Monastery of Santa Maria , located in the City Spanish of Guadalupe , in the province of Cceres in Extremadura , whose statue of the Virgin (the Virgin of Guadalupe ") was venerated by Christopher Columbus , who came thank her for her help in the discovery of the " New World ".

Summary

/ / History

Native Americans

Petroglyphs left by the Arawaks in Trois-Rivieres.

According to current knowledge, the Arawaks , Native Americans came from the Guyana Shield , were the first to be held in Guadeloupe. These people have lived peacefully there until the fishermen ninth century.

At that time, according to a controversial thesis today, the Arawaks were massacred at the arrival of the Carib Indian (also called Karibs or Caribs), a warlike people practicing cannibalism , apart from women who handed them their language. Indeed, it is also likely that despite the initial practices of the newcomers, these are two peoples intermarried to form an original indigenous population who kept track of the previous crop, especially as the abundant resources of the Grande-Terre could make them live in relative peace with other Carib islands in the region.

These Indians called it the island Karukera ("Island of gum," the tree named in caloucra Carib language), they occupied the area until the late fifteenth century, that is to say until the arrival of the first Europeans who nicknamed Calaou CAERA "island of beautiful waters".

Spanish conquest and expulsion of Native Americans

The modern history of Guadeloupe beginning in November 1493 , when Christopher Columbus arrived on the island of Basse-Terre on his second voyage. He named it Santa Maria de Guadalupe de Extremadura in honor of the Spanish monastery where Christopher Columbus made a pilgrimage after his first voyage to the New World in 1492 and came to thank for this discovery. Guadeloupe is then populated by the Caribbean , people of Amerindian presence on the island since the eighth century.

In 1641 , ends the war between settlers and the Caribbean. The latter, already diminished by disease and massacres since the first Spanish settlers, are sent on the island of Dominica.

First French settlement and development of the slave trade

From 1635 , the Olive Charles Lienard and Jean du Plessis Ossonville take possession on behalf of the Society Islands of French America. This is the beginning of the colonization of the archipelago.

The beginnings of colonization are difficult, so four commercial companies go bankrupt trying to colonize the islands of Guadeloupe. The population is increasing rapidly, however, and slavery happens, but in small quantities. In 1656, the slaves are already working on 3000 the archipelago for a population of 15,000 people . By 1700, the population slaves in Guadeloupe has risen to 6,076 people, far fewer than in Martinique. This difference also explains that a century later, in 1794, Victor Hugues was able to take control of Guadeloupe on behalf of the French Revolution while Martinique remained under the domination of large sugar growers in the English allies under the Treaty of Whitehall.

Conflict Franco-British and temporary abolition of slavery

Proclamation of Victor Hughes in November 1794.

After unsuccessful attempts in 1666 , 1691 and 1703 , the British captured the first time in Guadeloupe in 1759. They do not keep that up until 1763 ( Treaty of Paris ).

From 1775 , Guadeloupe, is no longer tied to Martinique but remains under the authority of the governor of the Windward Islands.

In April 1794 , taking advantage of the unrest caused by the French Revolution , the British retake possession of the island shortly after the April 20 defeat of Basse-Terre and the capitulation of General and governor since 1792, Georges Henri Victor Collot.

A commissioner of the Republic, Victor Hugues , the chase in the summer, aided by the slaves whom he had promised freedom. This latest announcement, June 7, 1794, the abolition of slavery (adopted by the Convention in February by the law of 16 Pluvise II). Victor Hughes said, "The Terrible", establishes the laws of the Convention and therefore the Revolutionary Court. Planters (some supported England) refuse to submit to the new regime are brought before this court. Punishment of the Commissioner of the Convention will be extended to 'old' slaves who revolted for not having been paid. In 1798, the Executive Board recalled him to France.

He was replaced by General Desfourneaux, but despite its commitment to reform of local management, it is also challenged by the population and part of the army.

In 1802, the First Consul Bonaparte appointed governor Lacrosse. The latter attempts to return from the army black officers, who had been incorporated after the abolition of slavery. A revolt of these officers rise. Own using the camps Lacrosse Delgrs Louis, Metis, become a leader of this rebellion with Joseph Ignace.

Bonaparte despatch an expedition of 4,000 men led by General Richepance to quell the rebellion. After a heroic defense, many insurgents prefer to commit suicide rather than surrender. "Live free or die" last words of Louis Delgres . The law of 16 Pluvise II had abolished slavery is canceled July 16, 1802 by Bonaparte.

In 1808, the English lead a new campaign of invasion of the West Indies, taking Marie-Galante and Desirade , then in 1809, the Saints. In 1810, Guadeloupe is again English.

After a first attempt at reconquest by France in 1814 ( St. Bartholomew had been ceded to Sweden by the Treaty of 1784 ), the British do in Guadeloupe returned them to France in 1816 (following the Congress of Vienna ). Since then she has remained under French sovereignty until today.

Institutionalization Republican in the colonial empire

Between 1816 and 1825 a series of laws to the island are enacted. Municipal institutions are emerging in 1837.

In 1848 , under the Second Republic , slavery was finally abolished for good.

St. Bartholomew is transferred again by the Kingdom of Sweden to France, which incorporates into the French Empire in Guadeloupe.

Guadeloupe has participated in the Second World War by providing men to FFL Free French Forces to participate in the resistance.

Departmentalizing and regionalization

On 19 March 1946 , the former colonies of the French Empire gave way to the French Union , but the French Antilles are approaching the status of the metropolis and become overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique (the Department of Guadeloupe also incorporate St. Barthelemy and St. Martin in a special ward).

February 14, 1952 , in the town of Mold is a strike organized by the factory workers Gardel for an increase in their wages, roadblocks had been erected by the strikers on the picket line. Finally, the French military site were ordered to fire on the crowd, the record is 4 dead and 14 wounded. According to some witnesses, some victims had no direct connection with the strike. Locally these events are called Massacre Valentine's Day.

Of new riots took place on 25, 26 and 27 May 1967 where events take place in working for a wage increase of 2.5%. These events give rise to clashes with riot police , and cause death of 5 to 87 people, according to sources, including Jacques Nestor, a famous activist from GONG and several wounded. Those arrested will be acquitted by the court.

With the arrival of the Socialists in power in France, the decentralization law was passed in 1982 and region of Guadeloupe is created, integrating the 22 regions in metropolitan France. In the process, the Regional Council of Guadeloupe was born in 1983.

On 17 September 1989 , the Hurricane Hugo inflicted serious damage to the islands. Located in a very exposed, the archipelago will face many hurricanes, most notably in 1995 when three hurricanes will hit the islands in less than a month.

Changes to the statutory unique communities

On 1 December 1999 , the Declaration of Basse-Terre is signed. Region of the chairmen of DFA propose to the President of the Republic and the Government a constitutional amendment or legislation, to create a new status of Region overseas with a special tax and social security for Guadeloupe, Guyana and Martinique, in the framework of the French Republic on the one hand, and the European Union on the other (Article 299-2 of the Treaty of Amsterdam).

On 7 December 2003 , voters in Guadeloupe and 73% rejected the proposed creation of a unique community replacing the department and the region that coexist on the same territory. The same day, the voters of St. Barthelemy and St. Martin voted in favor of the autonomy of their communities, become the organic law of 21 February 2007 two overseas Communities ( COM ) distinct from other islands Guadeloupe.

On 21 November 2004 , the islands of Guadeloupe, including the archipelago of the Saintes , were struck by an earthquake reaching 6.3 on the Richter scale and causing extensive material damage.

In January 2009 , the general strike of the French Antilles to protest against high prices, began in Guadeloupe under the collective Liyannaj Kont Pwofitasyon ("Uniting against exploitation" in Creole ) and its leader Elijah Domota , very chilling quickly the economy of the archipelago.

In April 2009, Nicolas Sarkozy opened the States General of the Overseas Territories in Guadeloupe, and many workshops including governance workshop, propose changes to statutory autonomous.

Administration

The white areas are part of the Guadeloupe region (except St. Barts & St. Martin ).

Since the constitutional reform of 28 March 2003, which removed the names DOM and TOM, Guadeloupe is an overseas departments (Department of Overseas number 971 and Region Overseas). It is both an administrative region and one department French overseas territories (the term DOM is used today) whose prefecture is Basse-Terre. It is with Martinique , located about 150 km further south, and Guyana , located in northern South America, the French Departments of America (DFA).

Today, Guadeloupe is part of the European Union in which it is a remote region , allowing it to benefit from "special measures", consisting in adaptations of Community law, taking into account the characteristics and constraints particular region.

The referendum on December 7, 2003 , where non prevailed, proposed to establish a new regional authority, managed by a single assembly that combines the skills of the region and department. This new community was to remain under the Article 73 of the Constitution with a system called assimilation legislation.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Guadeloupe.
Regional Results of the 2007 presidential
Tour Segolene Royal - PS Nicolas Sarkozy - UMP
1st Round 39.01% _ 61 734 _ 66 985 42.32%
2nd Round _ 91 529 51.57% _ 85 946 48.43%

The policy of Guadeloupe is structured as that of mainland France : the powers conferred by the population to mayors , elected by vote of each municipality in the archipelago. Citizens also vote for their councilors and regional advisers. These are the MPs who will represent them in the hex and bring the grievances of the territory at the head of state. If a building must be up to standard after a hurricane , for example, look in the funds of the regional council and if there is a lack of income, the request will be directed to the state. The prefecture of the department is Basse-Terre and in addition there is also a sub-prefecture based in Pointe--Pitre.


Regional Council of Guadeloupe Logo area-guadeloupe.svg (2010-2014)

Group Seats Status Results (1st Round)
PS - PPDG - Greens - Modem 31 Majority _ 78 261 56.51%
Presidential majority 4 Opposition _ 19 405 14.01%
DVG - GUSR - PCG - PSG - UPLG 4 Opposition _ 17 175 12.40%
CDI 2 Opposition 9634 _ 6.96%

Location
Position of the archipelago in the Caribbean Sea.

Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the northern hemisphere in North America , the Caribbean, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator. It is positioned at 16 15 'north latitude, the same latitude as Thailand or Honduras , and 61 35 'west longitude, about that of Labrador and the Falkland Islands.

This location places the archipelago 6200 km from mainland France at 2200 kilometers southeast of Florida , 600 miles off the coast of South America , specifically in the heart of the arc Lesser Antilles.

Description

Satellite photo of the Guadeloupe archipelago.

Through its archipelagic nature, Guadeloupe unveils landscapes as well as various mixed on an archipelago consisting of 1628 km 2 of land area and includes a multitude of islands, of which six are inhabited.

Covering an area of 1434 km 2, the "continental Guadeloupe" consists of two separate islands, which are separated by an arm of the sea not exceeding 200 feet wide, .

  • The Basse-Terre to the west, 848 km 2 (45-km oval mass of 20), is mountainous and covered with a dense tropical forest from north to south, abounding with many rivers and waterfalls.
Of volcanic origin (as some neighboring islands of Dominica , Martinique and St. Lucia ), its highest peak is the active volcano of Soufriere culminating at 1467 meters, the highest altitude of the Lesser Antilles. Like most volcanic islands , there are also many black sand beaches and red sand.
  • La Grande-Terre to the east, 586 km 2 (triangle about 40 km across), is flat and arid. Fresh water consumption is brought to the island of Basse-Terre by pipes under the bridge crossing the Salt River that separates the two islands.
On a limestone substrate (such as the nearby islands of Antigua and Barbados ), it consists of a plain bordered by a mangrove forest in south-west, an irregular succession of hills known as the "deep" in the center, and an arid plateau jagged rocky coastlines and wild north. It is on the coast south of Great land, dotted with white sandy beaches protected from the coral reefs are concentrated large resorts, this coast is called the "Riviera".
The Salt River flowing in a north-south by tidal currents through the east of an isthmus connecting the two islands. The configuration and position of the latter on both sides of the inlets are they are often compared to the wings of a " butterfly "deployed on the sea

At some distance from the butterfly, "Guadeloupe island (or islands in the south) is facing the" mainland "and consists of several islands extending from east to south-west of the archipelago, a area of 194 km 2.

  • Desirade , 21 km 2, is a limestone island elongated (11 km x 2 km), which appears as a vast plateau sloping toward the northwest. The Big Mountain, which reaches 275 meters above sea level, is its climax.
  • Petite-Terre , is a small archipelago of 2 km 2 consisting of two uninhabited islands of Terre de Haut and Terre de Bas enclosed by a coral reef , located about ten kilometers south of Pointe des Chateaux and whose Dsirade it depends administratively.
  • Marie-Galante , 158 km 2, is a large island formed on a substrate limestone hills, watered by the trade winds. Compared to its rounded shape (15 km diameter), it is nicknamed the 'Great Slab'.
  • The Saints are as a small string of bare craggy islets 9. Two of these islets are inhabited: Terre-de-Haut , a small island lying 5 km 2 in the center of the archipelago, and Terre-de-Bas , the largest islet 8 km 2 west of Archipelago and more rounded shape.

Basse-Terre and Les Saintes in the west of the archipelago are derived from the formation of a volcanic chain that recently culminated in Soufriere , while other islands east of the islands are of coral. Due to its characteristics geological , the archipelago of Guadeloupe is classified as Zone III based on the seismic zoning map of France.

Climate

The Caribbean islands in the path of tropical hurricanes.
Nuvola apps kweather.png Temperature readings and precipitation Pointe--Pitre Weather-rain-thunderstorm.svg
Month Jan February March April May June July August Sept. Oct. Nov. December Year
Average temperatures ( C) 25 25 26 27 27 27 28 28 28 27 27 26 27
Average monthly rainfall (mm) 98 55 64 119 156 130 193 206 246 230 221 128 1 846

Guadeloupe has a tropical climate tempered by maritime influences and trade winds. There are two seasons in Guadeloupe and adjacent islands:

Side temperature , with an average of 27 C, there is little difference between the warmer months (25 C to 32 C) and coldest months (from 23 to 29 C C). The specific geography of the archipelago, the contrast between Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre , also leads to a specific climate on each of these islands. Great Earth and its plates limestone regularly experience severe droughts , while at the same time, the terrain perpendicular to the flow of trade winds of Basse-Terre regulates the rainfall. The average temperature of sea water is 28 degrees Celsius.

Environment

Importation of pesticides in Guadeloupe.

Guadeloupe was once very rich in biodiversity , landscapes with high naturalness and species endemic. Since the sixteenth century, it has lost much of its original natural heritage, due to harvest (hunting and fishing in particular), forest loss , the urbanization of a peri accelerated in recent decades, as well as 'because of intensive crops ( banana and sugarcane in particular) that have replaced rainforest. The cultures of the banana and sugar cane have marked the non-mountainous landscapes and are important sources of pollution. With few exceptions ( methane ), the effluents from distilleries are not, or poorly treated. This agriculture exporter of sugar cane, alcohol ( rum ) and bananas exhausts the soil and is now very large importer of pesticides , which with insecticides. It has long been promoted by several large farming families and the State.

The aftermath of the use of these products, some quite toxic and persistent ( chlordecone , paraquat in particular) pose a problem today, also a pollution sustainable, many soils and ecosystems (in areas currently or formerly dedicated the banana plantations and downstream watersheds out to sea), a general contamination of mains water by organochlorines , confirmed in late 1990 and protected , some with a nature reserve status Guadeloupe , several caves harboring bats protected. Maps of underwater habitats allow to consider better management and protection of these fragile habitats and biological corridors submarines are vulnerable to pollution (nitrates, turbidity, pesticides ...), human pressure and weather conditions that could become more frequent and severe in the context of climate change globally. To Marie-Galante, Les Saintes and Dsirade the mangroves and mangroves have almost disappeared.

The archipelago image

Click on a thumbnail to enlarge

One of many waterfalls on the island of Basse-Terre

The Saintes views since Cabesterre

La Soufriere , rising to 1467 meters above sea level

The Racoon of Guadeloupe , an emblem of the archipelago

Sugarcane , a major agricultural activities

The Caret Islet in the lagoon of Grand Cul-de-sac Marin

On the island of Basse-Terre , the flora is exuberant

Fort Napoleon on the island of Terre-de-Haut , Les Saintes

The iguanas are abundant in the region

The beach on the island of Feuillre Marie-Galante

The sub-prefecture based in Pointe--Pitre

La Pointe des Chteaux , on the island of Grande-Terre

Economy

Main article: Economy of Guadeloupe.
The cultivation of bananas.

The economic situation of Guadeloupe, a large deficit, is translated by two figures: the unemployment rate (22.7% of the workforce in 2007 ), and the coverage of imports by exports (6% , 1996) is ranked second among the regions most affected by unemployment in the EU . In January 2010 the number of jobseekers is 51,860 people, which increases the unemployment rate to 23.7% of the total population is up nearly 11.5% over 2009. In addition, a young Guadeloupe in two is unemployed.

The agriculture ( sugarcane , banana , melon , coffee , vanilla , pineapple , avocado, orange, lemon, star fruit, etc..) once the economic engine of the archipelago, survives only thanks to government subsidies and local communities. "The cane is our steel industry, are wont to say, Guadeloupe and because the industry , few, mainly owned sector food ( sugar , rum factories , canneries ). Sugar cane and bananas, the two biggest productions of the archipelago, are in crisis. As for fruit and vegetable crops, they fail to meet the needs of 400 000 inhabitants each year, Guadeloupe has to import more than ten thousand tons of fruits and vegetables.

The industry represented by the INSEE , 5.4% of total value added of the department in 2006 (against 6.5% in 1993) and 6.9% of employment. It was partly due to its development tax exemption laws. In addition, Guadeloupe has a dozen industrial zones throughout the territory; activities are concentrated in the metropolitan Pointoise mainly on the site of Jarry (325 hectares), Common Mahault Bay. This area of activity Industrial (one first three industrial areas of France) has 80% of new jobs last decade.

The tourism is the only economic sector to maintain a certain momentum, and the good results of 2007 confirm the positive trend of economic sector. Passenger traffic at Pole Caribbean (excluding transit) increased 6.2%, primarily reflecting the effect of the development of cruise tourism, up 26.9% over the year, excluding cruise passengers, the number of passengers arrived in the archipelago grew by 3.6%. The hotel also ranked benefited from increased attendance, Guadeloupe is visited by a majority of travelers from the Hexagon (92% flow) to those of Italy and Belgium .

Demographics

(The demographics do not account for St. Martin and St. Barthelemy )

Demography of the Guadeloupe archipelago
Year 1664 1789 1879 1961 1967 1974 1982 1990 1999 2006 2008
Inhabitants 11 437 106 593 174 231 276 545 305 312 315 848 317 269 353 431 386 566 400 736 401 784

Population at 1 January 2008 , the population was estimated at 401,784 inhabitants, while in 1999 , Guadeloupe, had 386 566 inhabitants over the past nine years have passed, population growth was about 3.94% growth below that of metropolitan France (6.18%) over the same period.

Population density: in 2008, the average density was 247 inhabitants per square km as against 100 at the national level over a third of the land of the archipelago is devoted to agriculture and mountainous areas are not habitable and space and housing are scarce. Located at the junction of two major islands of Guadeloupe, Greater Pointoise (or Pointe--Pitre , the Abymes , Baie-Mahault , Gosier ) alone accounts for 33% of the population in this area, average density of 772 inhabitants per square kilometer, while in Marie-Galante, it is only 75 inhabitants / km.

Composition of the population : 72% of Guadeloupe are Afro-Caribbeans , 14% are Indo-Caribbean , 9% are of European type , 2% of the population is from the Middle East , finally, others are near 3% of the population. In addition, the population is very young Guadeloupe.

Immigration in the community: the wealth of Guadeloupe contrast with the extreme poverty of many islands in the region of the Caribbean , so the community is like a paradise for the people of these territories. In addition, other factors such as political instability and natural disasters account for this migration. By the 1970s, the first illegal immigrants home Haitian arrived in Guadeloupe to satisfy a need for labor in agriculture, and beside that Haitian immigration, the more visible because more numerous, Guadeloupe also known the arrival and installation of populations on the island of Dominica and the Dominican Republic. In 2005, the prefecture, which represents the state in Guadeloupe, advance figures from 50 000 to 60 000 foreigners in the department .

The islands of Guadeloupe

View on the banks of Pointe--Pitre , the largest city.
Rank Islands Pop. (2008) Pop. (99) Growth Area (km ) Density
1 a href = "Grande-Terre_ (Guadeloupe)" title = "Grande-Terre (Guadeloupe)"> Grande-Terre 197 681 196 767 Increase 0.46% 586.68 km 337
2 Basse-Terre 187 782 172 693 Increase 8.74% 847.82 km 221
3 Marie-Galante 11 872 12 488 Decrease -4.93% 158.01 km 75
4 Terre-de-Haut 1 831 1 729 Increase 5.90% 5.22 km 351
5 Desirade 1 587 1 620 Decrease -2.04% 21.42 km 74
6 Terre-de-Bas 1 031 1 269 Decrease -18.8% 7.58 km 136
7 Petite-Terre 0 0 _ 1.70 km _

Major cities

# Agglomerations Pop. (08) Pop. (99) Growth Activities Islands
1 Pointe--Pitre - Culture
Main article: Culture of Guadeloupe.

Culture of Guadeloupe follows from slavery with the Gwo Ka. It's simple music played with a percussion instrument called the "Ka." The Gwo-Ka allowed black slaves to communicate to the men of the bush.

But it is also based on the quadrille and the beguine who are both dancing couple on a tune catchy.

In terms of gastronomy, Guadeloupe is used primarily for its agricultural products as poyo (banana family more commonly known as green banana or ti-dwarf), the fruit of the bread-tree , of okra , of sprouts of cress and seafood dish like include, for example blaff where fish, previously seasoned, is cooked in a little broth accented with chives (a sort of onion in the country), parsley, pepper , thyme ... Guadeloupe's cuisine is often spicy and seasoned by soaking the meat or fish for hours before cooking to add flavor.

Guadeloupe is a land of interbreeding between Europe , the Africa and Asia ( Middle East , India ). Thus the Indian community long erased, wishes to acknowledge his identity. The presence of Indian color whatsoever by Colombo (spice) or tissue emblematic of traditional dress, the Madras, recalled their contribution very identity rooted in Guadeloupe.

The Indian community also has a tradition of its own and comes from India. These men May, distorted pronunciation of the name of the Hindu goddess Mariamman.

Besides cooking, Guadeloupe is known for its great taste of the festivities. So during Christmas , families and friends gather at singing Nwel opportunity to sing hymns and partying. After periods of New Year celebrations begin rehearsals for the Carnival. Groups carnival parade every Sunday evening in the streets until arriving Carnival holiday in February.

Groups skins, for example, Akiyo (which means, "Who are they?") are groups composed solely of large percussion instruments and conch shell. They have the distinction of not having a horn in the orchestra, not choreography, often parading without costumes themes.

The Mardi Gras is the big party where the carnival groups concur in the capital Basse-Terre or Pointe--Pitre to the best costumes, best choreography and best music whose theme is dictated by the committees carnival. Then the next day, Ash Wednesday , the day ends the carnival mascot, nicknamed King of the Carnival Vaval is burned, which marks the end of the festivities, everyone scrolls in black and white (to mark the mourning Vaval) and then begin 40 days of Lent.

The predominantly Catholic, respects this period, and nightclubs are empty, people avoid partying, some only eat fish or deny it then. But given the general enthusiasm for the holidays, the "mid-Lent Thursday, a parade in red and black So identical to the carnival with groups of musicians who preceded parade is held.

After this period of deprivation, these are the feasts of Easter , at which families often go camping on the beach and eat crab dishes: matt (rice cooked with crab), callaloo (crabs with leaves of madeira accompanied white rice) or dombrs crabs (small balls of flour cooked with crab).

Youth Guadeloupe conscious of its cultural heritage has created a new movement called Gwada Style, Name that give young people the archipelago, "Gwada". Often found expression in the reggaeton music / dance-hall music genres popular in the West Indies.

Public Holidays
Date Name Notes
January 1 New Year's Day First day of the year for Catholics, the Feast of St. Mary (before Vatican II , Circumcision of Jesus Christ ).
Day after the Sunday Easter (Monday, 25 April 2011, Monday, 9 April 2012) Monday of Easter Easter (Christian holiday common to Catholics and Protestants) is the first Sunday following the first full moon of spring fictitious.
May 1 Labor Day Commemorates the ratification of the working day of 8 hours, traditionally the day of many union and political events in France (Since 1947, the term "Labor Day" is only customary, ie not official).
May 8 Victory Day 1945 Commemoration of the German surrender and the end of the Second World War ( 1945 ).
May 27 Abolition of Slavery In the department of Guadeloupe only.
39 days after Easter (Thursday, 2 June 2011, Thursday, 17 May 2012) Thursday of the Ascension Christian festival celebrating the rise of Jesus in heaven.
day after the seventh Sunday after Easter (Monday, 13 June 2011, Monday, 28 May 2012) Monday of Pentecost Holiday Monday (Sunday only retains a religious significance).
July 14 National Day Commemoration of the Feast of the Federation of 14 July 1790 (itself anniversary of the storming of the Bastille in 1789).
July 21 Feast Victor Schoelcher Commemoration of the birth (actually 22 July 1804 ) member of Victor Schoelcher who was behind the abolition of slavery, specific to Guadeloupe and Martinique.
August 15 Assumption Catholic feast celebrating the rise of the Virgin Mary into heaven.
November 1 Toussaint Feast of All Saints of the Catholic Church.
November 11 1918 Armistice Commemoration of the armistice ending the First World War.
December 25 Christmas Birth of Jesus Christ.
Landscape of northern Grande-Terre , nicknamed "Little Britain Caribbean.

Language

Main article: Creole from Guadeloupe.

The Guadeloupe is a French department , the French is the official language. Representatives of older generations of the archipelago do not always speak fluent French, but the Guadeloupe Creole. Guadeloupe Creole is considered a regional language, an ancient language born of miscegenation in French, with English and African languages and some words Amerindian. Some examples of comparisons with English often ignored: In Creole, when we say that someone has biguidi this means shirk, lose strength or composure. English To Be giddy can mean being dizzy, feverish, have vertigo. Strated in Creole means a tray of a market. English has tray is a tray. Creole is moun lo means "many people". In English, it seems a lot of people (either literally a lot of people, many of the world). Also the term "mere secondary pathways (skipping school), just my way implied I go my way (I'm on my way outside of school). Creole was the means of communication of Africans deported during the slavery , the slaves from various African villages do not always understand them, and they needed a language they can communicate without being understood by their masters. Creole is a mixture as well.

The other islands of the Caribbean has undergone the same colonial history, a Creole is also spoken, however, there are variations. The Creoles of French-speaking islands (Guadeloupe, Martinique , Haiti ) are closest. However residents of English-speaking islands speak a Creole seems Frenchified despite the English language. Similarly, some residents of Dominica , an island nearby, are the Guadeloupe Creole.

Guadeloupe Creole syntax (like other Caribbean islands) do not consider the formal address, expressed by the 2nd person plural in French. The Creole language is also very colorful and very philosophical expressions. The Creole language is a harsh because it originates from the unspeakable suffering of slaves, the terms are often raw, which translates literally into French may easily lead to confusion. Yet their use in Creole does not reflect the violence that it is equivalent in French. For example Limme year ke di f si'w that word for word would mean "I'll light you on fire" does not mean the speaker's desire to burn the person with whom the dialogue, but rather its intention to impressed by its performance, as someone would say "I'm gonna roll" or "I'll give you a lesson" when he is sure to win a game play video.

Some elements of phonetics: the Creole was written for the first time by a beke Guadeloupe in the early twentieth century. At the time, he had transcribed phonetically from the French spelling. Now the letter "c" does not exist, or the combination "qu" sound Music

Archipelago musical mix, the beaches are washed by the zouk , the Gwo Ka , the beguine , and many other musical styles FWI , "French West Indies.

The Gwo-ka , dating back to slavery, is the root music of Guadeloupe. Gwo Ka was invented by slaves in the eighteenth century and was a means of expression as well as Creole, as well as a musical identity. Gwo-ka is played with a ka kind of drum and consists of seven rhythms toumblak, woul, pajenbel, graj, Kaladja, mennd, Lewoz, each corresponding to a state of mind and a special atmosphere. Even today, there are evenings Lewoz ", where musicians," tambouy "singers," sponsor "and rhythmic dancers improvise a conversation for hours. The term comes from Ka-quarter, the name given to barrels from which these "drums" were made.

The zouk is originally a drift rate of the beguine. The percussion of Zouk takes the downbeat of the rhythm of the drums biguine.Bien designated a popular dance, the creator of zouk is the artist Guadeloupe Roland Louis, but it is recognized that these are the groups like Kassav ' (which included Patrick Saint-Eloi ), Zouk Machine , Experiment 7, Gilles Floro and Francky Vincent were the first to export this musical style outside the Guadeloupe archipelago.

The biggest success of Zouk Maldon was nevertheless, song performed by the three daughters of Zouk Machine , among whom was the singer Jane Fostin. Over the course of evolution has created a new variant of zouk, Zouk-love, slower.

Young musicians from Guadeloupe are currently facing zouk zouk-love ( Medhy Custos , Sla ), to the dance hall and reggae-dancehall ( Admiral T ) and to the creation of independent label (Mozaik Kreyol "MK" of Admiral T , G ZUP concept Xiner DJ, G Prodi Missi GG ...)

Some figures

Musicians

Laurent Voulzy , during a concert at Belle Isle for the start of the trophy BPE.

Sports

Didier Dinart , champion handball.

Political figures


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