Celebrating 500 Years

Bermuda is throwing a birthday bash and you're invited. Throughout the year, the island is celebrating its quincentennial, marking 500 years since Spanish explorer Juan de Bermudez sighted its shores.

According to most accounts, Bermudez, who gave his name to the island, arrived here in 1505. What a wild, wonderful land it must have seemed to the adventurer, who surely would be amazed by the many changes that have taken place here in the last half-millennium.

Never hesitant to celebrate anything, Bermudians are commemorating the momentous occasion in a variety of ways. At press time, plans called for 500th year anniversay celebrations and events such as:

• A proclamation to be read after New Year's Eve celebrations in St. George's
• Release of a commemorative stamp
• Development of a special website, bermuda500.bm
• Introduction of a quincentennial song
• An exhibition of Bermudian artists at the airport
• A university research project on Bermudez
• A quincentennial theme for the Annual Exhibition in April and the 24th May Celebrations Race and Parade
• Participation of a Spanish war ship in the Queen's Birthday Parade in June
• A plaque celebrating the sighting of Bermuda by Bermudez
• A time capsule burial to ensure that future generations long remember Bermuda's colourful history

For a complete list of events, check out the Quincentennial Calendar.

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