Experience a Little Gullah Culture During Your Hilton Head Vacation
Monday, May 30th, 2011Gullah culture has its roots in slavery and original Gullah were African slaves shipped across the Atlantic Ocean from West Africa to work in cotton plantations. Plantation owners built their fortunes upon slave labor while slaves created a unique culture which includes language, folktales and superstition. Today, descendants call Hilton Head Island and South Carolina’s Lowcountry coastal region home and visitors to Hilton Head can experience some of the unique Gullah culture.
Gullah religion is deeply rooted in superstition. Most Hilton Head Island graveyards are located near water to ensure spirits will travel back to Africa to be among ancestors. Broken dishes, shells, water pitchers and shiny objects are often placed on Gullah graves to prevent the deceased from returning from the dead to look for former personal belongings.
Language of the Gullah is a combination of a variety of African languages and English. This was developed through necessity since plantation owners forbade African slaves from speaking their native tongue. The Gullah dialect incorporates broken English and African words. Today, it’s a “creolized” version of English.
Distinguished crafts of the Gullah are sweet grass baskets, boat building and quilting. Hilton Head Island visitors can see remnants of the Gullah past including a once segregated school and old churches, all legally protected.
Vacationing on Hilton Head Island can extend beyond the beach and golf courses. Add a little Gullah culture by taking a tour or dining in a Gullah restaurant. These include Gullah Heritage Trail Tours which is a narrated tour through several neighborhoods. Sample Gullah cooking with a visit to Dye’s Gullah Fixins. Or, plan a February Hilton Head Island vacation to participate in the annual Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration. Learn more about the culture including food, music and art during this uplifting celebration.
Image Source: Hilton Head Island Visitor and Convention Bureau





