A celebration of heritage and unity
St Maarten's / St.Martin Day
virginvoices.com staff
Sporting and cultural events and civic ceremony mark St. Maarten/St. Martin Day', (also known as Martinstag or Martinmas) on Nov. 11.
Parades and a joint tribute by Dutch and French officials at the Border Monument commemorate the peaceful coexistence of both the island countries of Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin.
The dual island nation traces back to to 4,000 BC. Around 800 AD when it was settled by Arawak Indians, and in the 14th century by Carib Indians.
These first inhabitants knew it as Soualiga, or "Salt Island."
Legend has it that Christopher Columbus sighted Soualiga on the 11th of November in the year 1493, the holy day of St. Martin of Tours, and he named the island after this saint. The 11th of November is now celebrated as the day the island was founded.
Although Columbus sighted and named the island, the Spanish never created a settlement.
About 250 years after Christopher Columbus the Dutch and French began populating the island. Then Spanish forces rallied attacks, driving out both the Dutch and French inhabitants.
The Dutch and French were eventually successful in joining forces to repel the Spanish. They signed an accord in 1648, which divided the island between them. But it was not a peaceful union until the 1800s.
Citizens of both islands now gather on November 11 for the traditional wreath-laying where government officials and civic leaders meet at a border point, followed by the hoisting of the flags and singing of anthems.
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