First day of the calendar year. On this occasion, families gather around a meal of local vegetables, local rooster and rice.

Superstition has it that everyone eats an orange, and the more seeds it contains, the more fruitful the year will be (usually in terms of money).

In the past, orange seeds were carefully stored all year round.

Epiphany is a Christian festival celebrating the birth of the Messiah, who was visited by the Magi shortly after his birth. In France, it is generally celebrated on the Sunday following New Year's Day, or on January 6. It is also called Three Kings Day in some countries.

It is not a public holiday.

The festivities are limited to a moment with family and friends, where a galette des Rois is shared with a glass of cider.

The Carnival Soley Sud Show, the competition for Carnival bands, kicks off Carnaval de la Martinique, which takes place during the Shrovetide. This year, more than a dozen groups will compete for the title of best foot band on the island. The competition will take place in the streets of Saint-Esprit between 3 and 6 pm.

To win, the best group will have to demonstrate originality in both costume and musical performance. Choreography synchronization will also be noted.

The three best groups will receive a cheque from the event's main sponsor, McDonald's.

Come one, come…

Festy'Roi of Pétrol' Band marks the launch of Carnival in the municipality of Le Lamentin. Hundreds of disguised residents parade through the streets of the town, accompanied by a dozen or so Carnival bands, who liven up the streets to the sound of drums and chachas. A route is predefined in advance. It usually starts at Place Mahault, near the Pont du Calebassier.

So bring the whole family, masks, colorful clothes, wigs and all the disguises in your closet to take part in the first costume event of the year. Festy' Roi is a sort of appetizer before the various parades and carnival…

Foyal Parade marks the launch of Carnival festivities in the capital city. For this first of the year, come in large numbers with your most beautiful costumes and disguises to parade through the streets of the city. Many Carnival bands, bradjacks and everything that makes the Martinican carnival flavor will be present. So don't miss this event, a sort of rehearsal before the Shrovetide.

Don't miss the chance to celebrate Carnaval de Martinique by night. It's a unique experience. Disguised, masked and all lit up, the population gathers for a nocturnal parade that lights up the streets of the capital. And what about the atmosphere? To the sound of the drums, chachas and other instruments of the marching bands, you won't be disappointed!

Come one, come all for this umpteenth rehearsal before the big day.

Candlemas is the Christian religious festival celebrating the presentation of Christ in the Temple. It takes place every year on February 2, 40 days after Christmas. Candlemas is considered to be the last festival celebrating the birth of Christ after Christmas, the Feast of the Innocents and Epiphany.

Each Christian feast has its own tradition, and the Chandeleur tradition is the eating of crepes.

Bèt à fé is a festival of lights to the rhythm of Carnival sounds. It's the second nocturnal parade organized by the city of Fort-de-France, and the last before Shrovetide. Come one, come all to this parade, which is also an opportunity to discover or rediscover the walking groups who will be taking part in the Carnival a few days later.

The Semaine Nautique Internationale de Schoelcher is an international sailing competition organized each year by the town of Schoelcher, where competitors from the Caribbean, Europe and North America take on local sailors in a variety of disciplines. This year marks the 32nd edition.

Martinique was the first American territory to celebrate Carnival. This festival, which celebrates the last days before the Lenten fast, consists of 4 days of popular parades in all the island's communes, the largest parade being that of Fort-de-France.

From Dimanche Gras, when the giant puppet named Vaval is presented, to his incineration with great pomp and ceremony on Ash Wednesday, the crowd sings, dances and jumps in a lively atmosphere.

Every Saturday before Easter, the commune of Le Vauclin organizes a massive sale of crabs, enabling local families to stock up for Easter. In addition to crabs, local produce, fruit and vegetables are on sale.

Come one, come all to buy your crabs to prepare your matoutou. Like every year, you can buy your crabs for Easter at the Place des Fêtes in Le Vauclin, opposite the sea. Several thousand crabs will be on sale for a starting price of €2 per crab.

Easter is the second most important religious festival after Christmas. Easter begins on Good Friday. In Christianity, Good Friday is the day on which Jesus Christ was crucified on Mount Golgotha. Before his crucifixion, he is said to have carried the cross on which he died to the summit of Mount Golgotha.

It is to recall these memories that Martinique's Catholics make pilgrimages to the various "chemins de croix", where they stop at various points to place candles and say prayers to Christ.

Gastronomically…

The Foire Expo de Dillon is a festive and commercial event held over 5 days in March or April in the parking lot of Dillon's Stade Pierre Aliker.

It's an opportunity for local merchants and craftsmen to showcase their products and expertise to the public on 10,000 square meters of floor space. Over 200 companies and 350 stands are present each year, with musical entertainment and play areas for youngsters.

Entrance is not free. You will have to pay €6 to have access to the exhibitors.

For the whole month of May, the town of Saint-Pierre celebrates two major events in the history of Martinique and the town of Saint-Pierre: the eruption of Mount Pelée, which destroyed the island's former capital, and the abolition of slavery, decreed following a slave revolt in the town of ...Saint-Pierre.

Far from being a simple commemoration, it celebrates the city, its assets, its wealth and its past gluttony. Above all, it's a celebration of arts and culture, featuring the former capital.

It's an opportunity to see…

Formerly International Workers' Day, Labor Day celebrates the victory of the workers' movements of the early 20th century demanding the 8-hour working day. The day is marked by a parade of the island's trade unions.

For the past 25 years, this event has generally taken place in the second quarter of the year. It gives hiking enthusiasts the chance to indulge their passion, discover tropical forest landscapes and, of course, compete in four races. The Tchimbé Raid is organized around Mount Pelée.

For all information about the races, check the website https://www.ctr972.fr. (French)

The Ascension is the Christian religious feast commemorating the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. It is a public holiday. In Martinique, the faithful attend mass in the morning.

The eruption of Mount Pelee is the biggest natural disaster in the history of Martinique.

Indeed, on May 8, 1902 following the eruption of Mount Pelée, 32,000 people lost their lives. The city of Saint-Pierre was completely destroyed and lost its status as the capital city.

A military parade takes place in Martinique to celebrate the armistice of the Second World War. During this war, almost 700 Martinican victims died fighting for France. Their names are commemorated at several war memorials around the island.

Pentecost is the Christian religious festival on which Christ's disciples are said to have received the Holy Spirit, enabling them to go out and evangelize every corner of the globe. Pentecost is celebrated in the same way as Easter. Beaches are crowded with people eager to taste the matoutou prepared at dawn.

On May 22, 1848, following a slave revolt in Saint-Pierre that drew in the entire Caribbean coast, slavery was immediately abolished on the island. Initially, the decree of April 27 called for slaves to be freed two months later.

May 22 was chosen as the date for the commemoration of slavery in Martinique, and was declared a public holiday.

Fête de la Musique, celebrated in over 100 countries around the world, coincides with the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere. It was launched by American musician Joel Cohen in 1976, then institutionalized by Jack Lang, then Minister of Culture in France.

Since then, Martinique has also been commemorating music on this date, with events planned in most of the island's communes.

The month of July is an opportunity for the city of Fort-de-France to give voice to the sounds of Martinique and the Caribbean, to showcase its colors and movements. Throughout July, concerts, exhibitions, plays and other cultural events are offered to the island's public.

The Tour des Yoles is the most popular event of the year, along with Carnival. Every year, between 13 and 20 round skiffs compete for the title of Tour de la Martinique. Stages are held in towns announced in advance. The rivalry between the boats is fierce. Not only do they represent the companies they display prominently on their sails, but each one is also associated with a commune of Martinique. However, several yawls can represent the same commune, and…

Cycling is one of Martinique's favorite sports, and the Tour de la Martinique remains as popular as ever. This international race is an opportunity to discover local and international champions who may one day aspire to participate in the Grande Boucle in France, which usually takes place simultaneously.

8 stages are contested over 7 days.

The Tour de la Martinique 2024 will be the 43rd edition of the event. The defending champion is Eddy-Michel Cadet-Marthe of Team Gedimat Madinina Bikers. …

For over 5 years now, the Musée de la Banane de l'Habitation Limbé in Sainte-Marie's Fourniols district has been organizing a banana festival. Each year, new gastronomic creations are presented to the public, including cocktails, sauces and various banana-based dishes.

As Martinique is a French region, it commemorates France's national holiday. July 14 refers to the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, which led to the Revolution and the abolition of the privileges of the nobility and clergy.

On this occasion, a military parade takes place in the streets of Fort-de-France, with the military and security forces present on the island.

Mercury Beach is a musical event that usually takes place at the end of July on a beach in Martinique. It's the reference beach party in the West Indies. In addition to the throngs of young people who come to dance the night away, many boats anchor in the sea where the event is held.

Local and national artists take to the stage one after the other, while the foam that falls from the sky contributes to the festivities and is undoubtedly the highlight of the evening. As for the attire, it's all about the bathing suit, like any self-respecting beach party.

In…

The Baccha Festival is an annual music festival held every August at Pointe Faula in Martinique. Along with the Tour des yoles, it's the most popular event of the summer vacations. For two days, local, Caribbean and international artists take to the stage to delight tens of thousands of festival-goers. Activities and workshops are organized around the musical event.

This year, the Baccha Festival will take place on August 17 and 18, still in the ideal setting of…

Christian holiday celebrating the Virgin Mary's elevation to heaven. Public holiday in Martinique. No special festivities.

In keeping with the Assumption tradition, August 15 is Sainte-Marie's patron saint's day, in reference to the Catholic religion's celebration of the Virgin Mary's elevation to heaven. It's the start of festivities in which the town takes center stage. Numerous performances and shows are on offer for several days, including the horse and mullet race on the square facing the islet of Sainte-Marie and the Tombolo, which has become a benchmark.

…

The Biguine Jazz Festival is a unique event in the world. Its aim is to bring music together, fuse it and share it with a passionate audience. The mix of musical genres on offer creates a cultural melting pot, the essence of Martinique and the Caribbean.

The Biguine Jazz Festival showcases music born of a marriage between biguine, a traditional Martinican rhythm, and jazz. The blending of genres creates an interesting cultural mix to discover, in the heart of the Ville d'Art et d'Histoire in Saint-Pierre and other venues around the…

The "European Heritage Days" were created in France in 1984 by Jack Lang, then Minister Delegate for Culture. At the time, the event was known as the "Historic Monument Open Days". The aim was to give all French people access to the wealth of France's heritage, by lowering or making free admission to historic monuments during these days. In 1991, the event was taken up throughout Europe.

Today, the event is organized in some fifty European countries and regions. Events are organized around these visits, and are accessible either…

The Semaine de la Gastronomie (Gastronomy Week) celebrates the place of the French gastronomic meal in the cultural heritage of France and its regions. A variety of events are planned for the occasion, including workshops, dinners, markets and meetings with producers, for a gourmet weekend full of flavors!

In Martinique, this is a great opportunity to showcase the contribution of local fruit and vegetables to local cuisine. Many local and national chefs are on hand for the event. It's the perfect time to discover and savor refined local dishes…

Since 1983, October 28 has been International Creole Day. This language is spoken by around 25 million people worldwide. Although Creole refers more to the Republic of Haiti, it is a language spoken on every continent.

Creole is spoken in Martinique, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Grenada and Trinidad & Tobago in the Caribbean, in French Guiana in South America, by the oldest speakers in New Orleans in the USA, on Reunion Island, …

All Saints' Day in the West Indies is all about preparation. From October onwards, families get organized to clean the family graves.

For years, young "jdobeurs" (people offering a service in exchange for cash) have been going around cemeteries to offer their services to families in return for payment.

November 1st and 2nd are public holidays in the West Indies. On the 1st, the Catholic faithful go to church to attend the Mass of All Saints. On both evenings, they gather as a family around the family graves, which they have…

Like the Second World War, the armistice of the First World War has its own public holiday in the calendar: November 11. It's a day of remembrance for those who died for France. Although there are no survivors of this war, this significant page in the history of France, and therefore of Martinique, is an opportunity to see the military parade along the Fort-de-France waterfront.

The Raid des Alizés is a 100% women's sporting adventure organized in Martinique's natural surroundings every year.

In 2015, the Comité Martiniquais du Tourisme launched the Raid des Alizés with the aim of attracting women from all over the world to come and take part in sporting events in the island's most beautiful natural sites.

Immersed in Martinique's natural environment, teams of women compete in a variety of sporting activities (trail running, mountain biking, canoeing and, of course…

Sainte Cécile is the festival of musicians. To mark the occasion, the island's communes give free rein to local musicians by organizing free open-air concerts. It's an opportunity to celebrate all the island's music, particularly traditional music (bèlè, biguine, mazurka, etc.).

For over 30 years, Martinique has held its international half-marathon one month before Christmas (with the exception of 2015, when the date was set for October 4). Numerous delegations from all over the world take part in this race through the streets of Fort-de-France.

The crowds lining the sidewalks support both local runners and those from other countries in their efforts.

The 37th edition of the Fort-de-France International Half Marathon in Martinique will take place on Sunday November 26, 2023, with the start on the…

Every year, the Saint-James distillery celebrates its rum and invites the public to a festival of events. For more than three weeks, you can taste the various rums and cocktails offered at preferential rates by the Saint-James distillery.

In addition to the gustatory delights, you'll have the opportunity to visit the plantation via the little train, enjoy the craft village (pottery, basketry, etc.), attend fashion shows, eat and drink and have a good time with family and friends, etc...

It's one of the most important festivals in the Caribbean. For over 30 years, the Martinique Jazz Festival has been a showcase for local and international artists eager to share their talents with an audience of music lovers and enthusiasts from the four corners of the globe.

The Martinique Jazz Festival is a series of jazz concerts organized on the Atrium stage and in several other towns on the island. The event usually takes place in the first week of December. It's an opportunity to listen to Martinique jazz artists, as well as those from other countries who…

If you love hiking, Martinique is the place for you! Every year since 2009, the TransMartinique® has been organized as the "hike of hikes" in Martinique.

Not only will you rub shoulders with hundreds of other runners, but you'll also have the chance to discover Martinique's many landscapes as you traverse the island from its northern to its southern tip.

Over a 134 km course (Ultra-trail 134 km and 5,000 meters of positive ascent for those in the know) from Grand'Rivière in the north of Martinique to Saint-Anne in the south of the island, you…

Christmas is one of the most festive times of the year in Martinique. Christmas in Martinique is not just one day, it's almost two months of festivities. From the day after All Saints' Day, drums, ti-bois and chachas resound to the sound of Christmas carols.

Local bands such as Ravine Plate, Les Troubadours and Bakwa Nwel are becoming the main players on the music scene. Free or paying "Chanté Nwel" evenings are organized for families, friends and others.

All this is accompanied by meals…

Every year, the City of Fort-de-France commemorates the end of the calendar year with a traditional fireworks display in Fort-de-France Bay. For several minutes, the city, then plunged into darkness, is illuminated by a veritable pyrotechnic spectacle. Very popular, the nearby streets are taken by storm very early in the evening.

Beforehand, an open-air concert is held on the Place de la Savane, and shows are organized for the little ones, notably the chouval-bwa.