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Saint Martin/Sint Maarten.
Culture:
The culture of Saint martin & Sint Maarten is of European, African, and Native origins.
The culture of St. Martin is a blend of its African, French, British, and Dutch heritage. Although St. Martin is a single island, it contains two separate nations: Saint-Martin, a French overseas collectivity; and Sint Maarten, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Although each side's culture is influenced by their respective administering countries, they share enough similar heritage and traditions that it can be difficult to tell where Saint-Martin ends and Sint Maarten begins.
The native Creole population can trace most of their roots to Africa, France, the Netherlands and the British Isles. Only some stones remain from the ruins of the two forts built by the Spanish occupation in its early take over. But during the colonial period, the British settlers and several military dominations left their idiom as the main language spoken on the island, and have made a large impact on St. Martin's culture.
Nowadays, due to a major influx of immigrants searching for better employment and living conditions, over the past twenty years the number of Creoles has been surpassed by the number of immigrants. Today, the island's population of 69,000 is truly a melting pot of people from 70 or more different countries.
Cuisine:
Perhaps in part due to French influences, the whole island is known for its excellent cuisine. Creole, French, and West Indian cooking are particularly renowned. Chefs trained in Europe elevate restaurant cuisine to gourmet level. Of course, with the diverse nationalities, plenty of international fare is cooked up. The island's cuisine is not much different from the nearby caribbean islands, they eat sea foods, plantains, green bananas, yams, and many meats.
Music:
Popular music on St. Martin includes a variety of styles beloved throughout the Caribbean. Calypso, merengue, soca, zouk, and reggae all contribute to the festive culture.
Ethnic Racial Composition:
* 80% Black & Mulatto
* 20% White
Languages:
The official language for Saint Martin is French, and for Sint Maarten it's both Dutch and English. They, however on both sides of the Island speak a local English dialect (some speak a French dialect) with influences from French, Dutch, and African languages. The local English dialect has it's roots in Hiberno English or Southern Irish English and British English with some influences from the Dutch and Normandi (Northern) French languages, as well as West African languages from the imported slaves from the earlier days.
Religion:
In French Saint-Martin, the most popular religion is Roman Catholicism. Dutch Sint Maarten favors Protestant denominations, particularly Methodism. The island also has small Jewish and Seventh-day Adventist communities. There is an unknown number of Rastafarians on the Island.
Sports:
Cricket, Soccer, sailing, and Swimming
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