Greek Bahamians
Total population | |
---|---|
Less than 1% of the population | |
Regions with significant populations | |
European Bahamians |
Greek Bahamians (Greek: Ελληνομπαχαμιανός, romanized: Ellenobakhamianόs) comprise Bahamian citizens of either full or partial Greek heritage. Most residents, if not the entire Greek community, are the descendants of Greek labourers who came to the Bahamas in 1880s to develop the sponging industry.[1]
Migration history
Greek migrants were expert spongers from the
The Bahamas also later became a tourist destination for Greeks from the United States, Canada, Australia etc. some of whom maintain vacation homes in Nassau and its surroundings which includes the Greek Australian professional tennis player Nick Kyrgios.[6][7]
Culture
Greek-Bahamians have been able to preserve some of their culture, including Greek cuisine; at one time, nearly all of the [citation needed] restaurants in downtown Nassau, as well as the airport catering service, were owned by Greeks.[4] The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, on West Street in Nassau, was built in 1932; it is noted as an example of historic architecture in the Caribbean islands. It consists of a small wood-frame octagonal Byzantine tower, topped by a groined dome.[8][9] The community holds festivals on various dates of significance in Greek politics and the Greek Orthodox religion, including Easter (celebrated according to the Julian calendar), the anniversary of Greek independence, and the Epiphany. At the latter, they preserve the custom, referred to as "quaint" by community members, of throwing a cross into the sea and holding a competition to see who can swim out and retrieve it first. A Greek dance gala is also held biannually.[4]
Most Greeks in the Bahamas belong to the middle and upper-middle class. Many young Greek-Bahamians of the second or third generation go overseas for their tertiary education, especially to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, before returning home to take up careers.[6] Common professions include law, medicine, and the construction business.[10]
Notes
- ^ a b Johnson 1986
- ^ Craton & Saunders 2000, p. 41
- ^ Craton & Saunders 2000, p. 257
- ^ a b c Fernander, Kermit B. (2003-09-02), "Greek migration to The Bahamas", The Nassau Guardian, archived from the original on 2013-02-04, retrieved 2010-08-20
- ^ "Exhibit features history of Tarpon Springs ties with Bahamian Greeks", Tampa Bay Weekly, 2009-02-24, retrieved 2010-08-20
- ^ a b Kourvetaris 1997, p. 253
- ^ O'Brian, Jack (1967-12-21), "Richest Greeks Buy Mansions in Bahamas", The Miami News, p. 13, retrieved 2010-08-20
- ^ Crain 1994, p. 195
- ^ Gravette 2000, p. 92
- ^ Kourvetaris 1997, p. 254
Sources
- Crain, Edward E. (1994), Historic architecture in the Caribbean Islands, University Press of Florida, ISBN 978-0-8130-1293-3
- Craton, Michael; Saunders, Gail (2000), Islanders in the Stream: A History of the Bahamian People, Volume 2: From the Ending of Slavery to the Twenty-First Century, University of Georgia Press, ISBN 978-0-8203-2284-1
- Gravette, Andrew Gerald (2000), Architectural heritage of the Caribbean: an A-Z of historic buildings, Signal Books, ISBN 978-1-902669-09-0
- Johnson, Howard (1986), "'Safeguarding our traders': The beginnings of immigration restrictions in the Bahamas, 1925-33", Immigrants and Minorities, 5 (1): 5–27,
- Kourvetaris, George A. (1997), "The Bahamian Greek Community: Past, Present, And Future", Studies on Greek Americans, East European Monographs #470, Columbia University, pp. 247–255, ISBN 978-0-88033-377-1
See also
External links
- Pericles Maillis: "Bahamians of Greek Descent, Our Story" (video of a 2007 presentation to the Bahamas Historical Society)
- Greek Orthodox parish website