Feel the Beat of Nicaragua's Yearly Maypole Festival

DANCE REGGAE IN NICARAGUA?

FEEL THE BEAT OF NICARAGUA’S YEARLY MAYPOLE FESTIVAL

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (April 23, 2008) – Nicaragua’s month long Maypole Festival, or “Palo de Mayo”, is one of Central America’s most unique festivities, an intense display of the country’s widespread Creole culture with non-stop merrymaking, colorful costumes, beauty pageants and decorated floats.

The Maypole festival stretches back to the 17^th century, signifying the re-birth of nature in the Spring, when love, fertility and wedlock were strongly emphasized.  Today, this historical fiesta is relived yearly on Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast, with fierce rhythms, parties, local delicacies, competitive dance contests and continuous live. reggae music.

Palo de Mayo celebrations can be found along Nicaragua’s Atlantic coast throughout the month of May. The largest of which are found in Bluefields, also known as Nicaragua’s “reggae capital”, where tourists and locals can be found enjoying “pole-dancing”, an event that takes place at the end of the month. A large pole is erected with colorful ribbons and fruits dangling from the top. Participants dance sensually around the pole in vibrant costumes holding the ribbons, forming a colorful spectacle for onlookers.

Local dishes include coconut and seafood, as both are locally available for Nicaraguan coastal cities. Numerous breads and cakes, including coconut bread, breads with fruit, and “Jorny Cake”, a small cookie eaten with ginger tea, are popular during Palo de Mayo. The traditional “Rondon” is akin to a Caribbean style paella (with a little bit of everything) and “gallo pinto con coco” adds a hint of coconut to the traditional red beans and rice.

La Costena and Atlantic Airlines both have daily flights from Managua to Bluefields, making a trip to the Palo de Mayo festival that much easier. La Costena can be contacted at (505) 263-2142 Ext. 2203 – 2209, and Atlantic Airlines at (505) 233-3103 Ext. 2410 – 2457 or www.atlanticairlinesint.com.

About Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast:

Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast is Nirvana for nature lovers. It is the largest and most unpopulated region of the country, covering more than 46% of the Nicaragua’s territory with more than 205 miles of beaches. Culturally, socially and linguistically, it is also worlds apart from the rest of the country. While most of the inhabitants are indigenous (Misquito, Sumo and Rama Indians), English is widely spoken in this once British settlement. Nicaragua’s “jungle coast” possesses the largest expanse of tropical rainforest north of the Amazon. Rivers are the primary means of transportation. World-class fishing, scuba diving and eco-tourism are drawing a growing number of travelers to this very special region.

For more information, visit www.vianica.com or call 1-888-SEE-NICA.

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