Carnaval in Cape Verde

One of the events that is celebrated in many countries of the world is Carnaval or Carnival.

In this respect, Cape Verde is no exception. Each of the islands, from Sal to São Vicente, celebrates the festival of Carnaval. While the historical details of Carnaval may vary by location all over the world, in general, it was either derived from African slaves celebrating their freedom from slavery, or in other contexts, it was the last fling preceding the stringent religious observances of the 40 days of Lent. These are the general themes of the history of Carnaval.

Whatever the specifics of the history in any particular locale might be, the fact remains that today, residents and visitors, young and old alike can participate in the activities by either officially joining a group of costumed revelers or simply jumping into the non-costumed groups of party-goers dancing in the street.

Participating in the celebrations is perfectly safe and a ton of fun. And as for those who prefer to stand at the sidelines while others have all the fun ... it's an interesting study in the humanity that connects us all. Either way, it is certainly an enjoyable lesson in Cape Verde's history and culture.

Here is a brief clip of school-children participating in the history and culture of their nation.

So, plan to visit any of the islands of Cape Verde for Carnaval and let your hair down just a little.

The local love affair with Soccer

For Cape Verdeans, there is only one sport that truly excites the nation, and it is soccer. Not just any soccer, but soccer in the Portuguese leagues. Forget soccer from any other nation on the planet, if it is not Portuguese soccer, it's not worth following.

So, if you want to make a several dozen new friends, and "enemies", in the space of 90 minutes ... just go sit in a local bar when one of the soccer games is on. But, to truly appreciate what is going on you will need a little background to bring you up to speed.

It is quite understandable that Cape Verdeans should particularly enjoy Portuguese soccer. Cape Verde was a colony of Portugal and is still very connected to Portugal, economically, financially and socially. There are many Cape Verdean expats living in Portugal today. Yet, it's also funny, because even though 90% of Cape Verdeans living in Cape Verde have never set foot in Portugal, and even though many of the expats migrated to various countries across the globe, it is only Portuguese soccer that is revered.