Learning About Eggs

Bermuda is a country whose name many recognize from its infamous triangle said to swallow boats and airplanes without a trace. While that’s a myth of course, Bermuda is a lovely country full of fun things to learn.

Bermuda Basics

Bermuda is a collection of 181 islands, though the largest islands are joined by bridges so they seem to be like one land mass. The country is a British Overseas Territory with a land area of 54 square kilometers (21 square miles). It has a population of almost 64,000 people.

The islands are made up of volcanoes and sit far in the Atlantic Ocean. The nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, which is about 665 miles, or 1.070 km away. 

Bermuda was named for Juan de Bermúdez, who discovered it in 1505. It has been inhabited permanently since 1612, when the first British colony was established at St. George’s.

It is self-governing, with the parliament working from the capital of Hamilton. The House of Assembly dates to 1620, making it one of the oldest legislative bodies in the world. A vote on declaring independence from Britain was held in 1995 but the majority opted to stay a territory of the UK.

Bermuda National Symbols

The flag of Bermuda features a red background with the British flag in the top left corner as it hangs and the Bermuda coat of arms on the right side. The coat of arms includes a red lion holding a shield on which a shipwreck is depicted. The lion is a symbol of the British monarchy.

The shipwreck is in honor of the voyage of the Sea Venture, one of seven ships that set out from England to the Jamestown colony in 1609. a strong storm separated the ships and the Sea Venture deliberately crashed into the reefs of Discovery Bay, an eastern part of Bermuda. The shipwreck survivors were stranded for about nine months.

The nation’s motto is Quo Fata Ferunt, or “Whither the Fates Carry [us],” which seems pretty appropriate.

Being a British territory, the official national anthem is “God Save the King,” but the the country also uses “Hail to Bermuda” as its national song.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufIoN49uvIw?si=oD2MidWQFxjcxsE9]

Unofficially, the national animal is the Bermuda Petrel, one of the most endangered sea birds on the planet. The Bermudiana is the national flower, which is a small, purple member of the Iris family with bright yellow centers. (They’re adorable; go take a look!)

The Bermuda Cedar, which is actually a juniper, is considered the national tree.

Bermuda Activities for Kids

Did you know Bermuda has pink sand? Learn all about why and see lots of pictures of the pink sand beaches at Go to Bermuda.

Explore the Crystal Caves of Bermuda, a network of caves filled with crystal formations and an underground lake.

Get fact sheets and worksheets about the Bermuda Triangle from KidsKonnect. (They also have more general Bermuda worksheets.) Learn more about the Bermuda Triangle from Britannica. Older kids can research a disappearance linked to the triangle and debate if they think it is real. Study.com members can access a lesson on the Bermuda Triangle, or check out books like Where is the Bermuda Triangle? or The Bermuda Triangle: Solving Mysteries with Science.
or
This one probably won’t last, but you can watch a feed of Bermuda Petrels on Nonsuch Island. The Bermuda Audubon Society has coloring pages for a variety of local birds.

Twikl has a resource pack for Bermuda Day, a public holiday at the end of May that marks the beginning of summer and time to break out the Bermuda shorts. (Wikipedia says they have that name because of their popularity in the islands, where they have long been considered appropriate business attire.)

Fish chowder is considered a national dish of Bermuda; get a recipe from The Bermudian (leave out the rum if making for kids!). Since traditional rum cake isn’t kid friendly, try Bermuda Banana Bread instead. This recipe from Jackie’s Kitchn is pretty basic, which kids should like.