Comments on: Column: The Beginnings Of Cup Match In 1835

By: Raymond Ray

Raymond Ray — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 10:14:50 +0000

I thank you Mr. Larry Burchall for the, “eye-opener” in reference to the history / “his-story” lessons…
Hoping you, (and yours) have an extremely happy time this Cup Match.

By: Onion Juice

Onion Juice — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 00:04:44 +0000

Originally, Cup Match involved only Black Bermudians, This unofficial annual two day strike by thousands of Black Bermudian workers was an irritation to white business bosses and business establishment.
After 180 years later, these statements are the same we hear and see today.
The only difference is it seems that Black Bermudians had more b@lls back then.

By: Future

Future — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 21:55:51 +0000

Larry, you craft another good reminder to all and we thank you.

One correction:

“…recently freed black Bermudian slaves…”

Before enslavement, we were not slaves. After enslavement, we were not slaves. How then can this 2.5 second period in our history define us….forever? A “freed slave” is an eternal contradiction, an unintended yet thumping assault on true identity through permanent chaining to temporary conditions.

By: Really, Really Bettty

Really, Really Bettty — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 21:46:36 +0000

The Premier of Bermuda missed the mark in his presentation last night. This article reflects what should have been spoken. History of the day is most important……..Burchall…..

By: Larry Burchall

Larry Burchall — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 20:44:02 +0000

Why and when did camping begin?

Very early on.

In 1835 and for many years thereafter, just freed ex-slaves would have had to walk everywhere. So a family gathering would entail family members starting off at dawn and walking one, two, or three hours (4, 8, 12 miles) to assemble.

Then they’d party.

After a ‘nice’ party. who was going to walk back home, that evening?
Black Bermudian ex-slaves and freemen didn’t have much in the way of horse or donkey carts until much later in the century. Even then, there would be no rush to rush back home the ‘day after’.

There are, of course, no carefully kept records of those first decades of all-black celebrations. But since human nature has not changed all that much, it’s reasonable to assume that overnighting became the norm and simply expanded when the cricket game kicked.

It goes on from there and today’s ‘family camping’ is the logical and actual outcome.

The ‘family camp’ was also the place where one would go to meet others. That’s the big feature today. Today, each family ‘hosts’ everybody else at their Cup Match ‘camp’.

By the way – I suspect that even that first day in 1835 might have been more of a two-day-er. However, I must confess that I cannot find the records to support that.

Hope that helps….

Larry.

By: Rhonnie aka BlueFamiliar

Rhonnie aka BlueFamiliar — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 17:59:59 +0000

It’s interesting to read the description of the events that brought us to this holiday as it is now.

I’ve never really worried about the naming of the days, it was simply ‘Cup Match’ and it began as a celebration of the emancipation of the slaves.

I always thought that the fact that it had grown to be the Island’s most important and all inclusive holiday a wonderful example of who we, as Bermudians, are.

By: Accurate

Accurate — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:58:51 +0000

Nice.

By: San George

San George — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 12:26:52 +0000

Good job Mr. Burchall!

Bernews should publish this every year!

Real heroes put themselves in the place of their fellow men – like the young man in Charleston N.C. who stood in front of his grandma so that she would not be shot.

We will make you a hero on this one, but let’s make sure our future heroes are real heroes.

By: Raymond Ray

Raymond Ray — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 11:56:43 +0000

I along with countless others want to thank you Mr. Larry Burchall for that bit of relevant history…Now I do have a somewhat personal question to ask of you, (or anyone else) My wife asked me and I didn’t know how to answer, so maybe you can help. She’d wanted to know, “how did camping, during this special period come about?”