The river is deep and the river is wide, hallelujah
Green pastures on the other side, hallelujah

Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah
Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah
Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah

Jordan’s river is chilly and cold, hallelujah
Chills the body but not the soul, hallelujah

Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah
Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah
Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah

The river is deep and the river is wide, hallelujah
Milk and honey on the other side, hallelujah

Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah
Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah
Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah

Chances are you can sing at least some of the lyrics to Michael Row the Boat Ashore, but you might not be as familiar with the origins of the song itself.

It is believed to have originated on the Islands of South Carolina by slaves who had been left behind during the Civil War.  As they rowed their boats, the former slaves sang the song to keep rhythm.  You can imagine that this simple act was probably performed with a mixture of excitement, fear, even hesitation as they wondered what awaited them on the other side.

The song was first written down by Charles Pickard Ware and published in 1867. There are many different versions of the lyrics. Here is a version performed by Pete Seeger in 1963.

We hope to see you on the shore of Hilton Head Island for Gullah Celebration 2014. Keep on rowing!

“Bumbye!”

Slaves brought to South Carolina and Georgia during this time period unwittingly brought tropical diseases such as malaria and yellow fever with them.  These types of diseases thrived in the swampy region of the Lowcountry where rice fields were planted. While many of the Gullah people were resistant to these diseases, the white planters were not. As such, masters of the plantations moved their homes and families away from the rice fields and left a few white managers and trusted slaves to tend to business.

With most white plantation owners keeping their distance, Gullah populations thrived while the white population remained low. In 1708, there was a black majority in South Carolina, a rarity at the time.

This isolation allowed a unique opportunity for the African culture to remain relatively intact. Without the persistent influence and control of white slave owners, the language, rituals, customs, music, crafts, and diet of the Gullah cultures thrived. Add to this the constant influx of slaves directly from Africa and you have an environment in which the Gullah community could develop in relative seclusion.

The rice economy of South Carolina and Georgia collapsed after about 1890, and within years, rice plantations were abandoned and the fields returned to swampland. This left the Gullahs in one of the most geographically remote regions in the United States. They did not even have bridges to connect the islands to the mainland until the 1920’s.

Thankfully, the Gullah culture has remained intact and luckily, more and more people are learning to celebrate all that is Gullah! 

For more information, click here.

Good home cooked food is a Gullah tradition. Prepared by Gullah Ooman Chef, Louis Cohen and other native islanders. This breakfast will feature stewed oysters, shrimp and grits, fried fish, biscuits and beverages.

 St. James Baptist Church

Oysters are found in shallow waters throughout the world’s oceans in large colonies called “beds” or “reefs.” Although they are generally oval or pear-shaped, their appearance can vary depending on what they attach to. Usually, their rock-hard shells are whitish-gray in color and most oysters have a porcelain white body inside. They feed by extracting algae and other food particles through their gills. Oysters have the added intrigue of changing genders throughout their lifetime.

It is surprisingly easy to roast oysters, although it is hard to imagine how the first people who ever ate them a) got them open and b) got past their appearance. If you are roasting oysters at home, the only required ingredients are a grill and oysters. You can use foil to keep the grill clean and melted butter for dipping as added components, but they are not required. Place all the oysters facing the same way on the foil or straight on the grill, ensuring that they are not stacked on top of each other. This helps them to cook evenly.

Let your oysters cook until they start opening up. Once this occurs, you can use a fork or shucking knife to scoop out the insides, dip them in butter, and enjoy! Of course, if you’re out of charcoal, you can enjoy oysters raw as well.

It goes without saying that it’s much more relaxing to enjoy them with us at Gullah Celebration! All you can eat oysters or shrimp for $17. Enjoy both for only $25. Come help us wrap up this year’s Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration in style this Saturday, March 2nd, from noon to 4 pm at Shelter Cove.

11am- 5pm at St. James Baptist Church Annex
$10 (12 and Up),  $5 (6-11)
FREE, with a can good (5 and under)

Samplings of great Gullah cuisine.
barbeque ribs, chicken and  seafood
will be available.
Featuring special celebrity guest judges.

Register Below

To participate in this event please call 843-255-7303

It was feared that the breed had become extinct during the 1980’s and 1990’s, though this was found to be incorrect and there are an estimated 150 pure Marsh Tacky horses left.

Because Marsh Tacky horses are sturdy, thoughtful, well-balanced, gentle, fearless, and strong, they were popular as working animals in the field. Likewise, they were often used for hunting and herding cattle.

“Tacky” is derived from the English word for “cheap” or “common,” but Marsh Tacky horses were anything but this in the eyes of the Gullah community and culture following the Civil War. Oral history states that freed slaves of Hilton Head Island were each given 40 acres and a Marsh Tacky. These equine prizes were used for everything from delivering mail to bringing people to church.

Do you want to learn more?

The Marsh Tacky Horse Exhibition and Show is this Sunday, February 24, from noon to 3 PM at 231 Beach City Road. Admission for ages 6 and up is $5, and children 5 and under are free with a canned good. This is a hands on experience that showcases the very horse that played an integral part in the survival of the Gullah people on Hilton Head Island. See you Sunday! 

Source: http://bit.ly/YnZvex