Barbadians in the diaspora are encouraged to Come ’Long Home for the food, the rich cultural heritage, liming with friends and family, and rekindling the community spirit across Barbados as Government prepares to host We Gatherin’ 2025.
Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, will lead the coordination and oversight of the activities; Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Culture, Senator Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight, will provide overall strategic direction for the celebrations. A secretariat has been created and is being led by Senator John King.
Billed as an event to inspire national pride in all Barbadians and to stimulate economic growth by way of investments and other inputs, the year-long celebrations offer Barbadians an opportunity to get involved in investment opportunities and to highlight the icons, heritage, social activities, and cuisine synonymous with each parish.
It is expected that We Gatherin’ would promote philanthropy and fuel environmental sustainability as Government seeks to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Goals 2030 agenda.
The event is being seen as extra special as the island will celebrate its fourth year as a Parliamentary Republic and commemorate the 400th anniversary of the British landing in 1625. Barbados will also host CARIFESTA later in the year.
Activities will begin in St. Lucy under the broad theme of ‘Faith’ and attendees are encouraged to wear jade to all celebrations. The activities will then move to St. Peter in February with ‘Heritage’ as the theme and lime green as the preferred colour.
During March, events in St. Thomas will centre around the theme ‘Nature’ and cardinal will be the chosen colour. For St. Joseph, the theme for April is ‘Adventure’, and the colour of choice is sky blue.
In May, ‘Community’ will be the centre of attention for residents living in St John when the celebrations roll into the parish under a blaze of yellow. It will be the turn of St. George in June when the activities will be held under the theme ‘The Land’ and red will be the colour of choice for patrons.
Barbados’ rich story of sugar will come into sharp focus in July, as residents of St. Philip pay homage to its history bedecked in purple as the colour chosen for that month.
St. Andrew, St. James, Christ Church, and St. Michael will hold their celebrations during August, September, October, and November, respectively. They will be held under the themes ‘The Arts’, ‘Cricket’, ‘The Sea’, ‘Food and Feting’. The parish colours are forest green, electric blue, orange, and white, respectively.
We Gatherin’ 2025 will culminate in nationwide celebrations from November 30 to December 31, utilising all parish colours.
Government launched the first We Gatherin’ celebrations on January 1, 2020, which ended prematurely in March, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (JC/BGIS)
