The first Domain, Oral Traditions and Expressions Including Language as a Vehicle of ICH, outlines the way Sint Maarteners communicate verbally. This segment of the database encompasses these customs by listing each with clarification, and indicating if the tradition is thriving, declining, or surviving.

 

Oral tradition served as the sole means of communication available for forming and maintaining societies and their institutions. Moreover, oral tradition remains the dominant mode of communication in the 21st century, despite increasing rates of literacy.

 

The expressions used in society are also sayings and verbal cues that are distinctive to people.

Far more than “just talking,” oral tradition and expressions refer to dynamic and highly diverse oral-aural mediums for evolving, storing, and transmitting knowledge, art, and ideas.

​

The second Domain, Performing Arts, outlines the way Sint Maarten presents acts of art, such as music, dance, and drama, are performed for an audience. This segment of the database encompasses these customs by listing each with clarification, and indicating if the tradition is thriving, declining, or surviving.

 

The survival of our island’s historic Performing Arts depends widely on our educational institutions, at which most of the arts are exhibited and taught, but also on the interest of our society in general.

While American, European and modern influence attribute to the heavy decline in our island’s performing arts, the areas that continue to flourish are thriving in our schoolyards, theaters, and cultural events with substantial involvement of devoted lovers of our island’s history. Some faces remain at the forefront, as renowned cultural icons in Performing Arts, widely recognized as cultural pillars in a community of increasingly weighty outside influence.

​

Today, the history of our people’s Performing Arts serves regularly to entertain and educate but understanding the background and origin of the arts evokes a special love and understanding of the unique skills which aim to live on through generations.

​

The third Domain, Social Practices, Rituals, and Festive Events, outlines the way the people of Sint Maarten keep intangible culture and heritage alive through communion with each other. This segment of the database encompasses these customs by listing each with clarification, and indicating if the tradition is thriving, declining, or surviving.

​

Our island’s culture thrives on gatherings – from the early morning joining of hands in prayer, to the occasional get-together at the family home – if there is reason to laugh, cry or celebrate, our people will commune, and our boundless borders afford free movement to attend.

​

Locals and visitors alike enjoy and look forward to getting together in the seasonal awakening and display of cultural feasts, and yet it is that culture that keeps everyone returning for more. More to eat and drink; more to celebrate, more to enjoy!

​

The fourth Domain, Knowledge and Practices Concerning Nature and the Universe, offers insight into the spiritual beliefs and practices of Sint Maarten people. This segment of the database encompasses these customs by listing each with clarification, and indicating if the tradition is thriving, declining, or surviving.

​

Spiritual beliefs and practices stemming from our African forefathers remain pronounced aspects of our island’s heritage which thrive predominantly, as they remain regular practice in the home, and are passed on to succeeding family members.

​

Many spiritual and herbal remedies have been superseded by European and American alternatives of modern medicine, but those that continue to deliver desired results remain the household custom.

The fifth Domain, Traditional Craftsmanship, sheds some light on some ways Sint Maarten people display cultural heritage through craft.

​

A drastically declining facet of our cultural heritage is our craftsmanship. Greatly attributed to the diminishing artform, is the lack of need and interest due to the mass import of manufactured tools and constructs previously built by hand.

​

Traditional craftsmanship continues to survive in representing cultural heritage, more as an expressive artform than a vital craft.