Cup Match is one of Bermuda’s most anticipated annual events, celebrating Bermudian culture and community, and continues a tradition of remembrance of emancipation and the life of Mary Prince. More than a cricket match, Cup Match commemorates the abolition of slavery in Bermuda and honors the courage and legacy of Mary Prince.

Held over two public holidays at the end of July or beginning of August, Cup Match is a time when families and friends gather to celebrate Bermudian heritage through cricket, music, food and tradition. It is a weekend that reflects both the island’s journey toward freedom and the enduring strength of its community.

In 1947, the two-day Cup Match holiday was officially established as Emancipation Day and Somers Day. In 2020, Somers Day was renamed Mary Prince Day in recognition of Bermuda’s National Hero, whose 1831 autobiography provided one of the most influential first-hand accounts of slavery and helped strengthen the British abolitionist movement.

Mary Prince

Mary Prince was born into slavery in Bermuda in 1788. Sold multiple times during her life, she endured years of physical hardship and cruelty before eventually travelling to England, where she became involved with the Anti-Slavery Society.

In 1829 Mary Prince became the first woman to present a petition to Parliament, fighting for her human right to freedom, and two years later Prince published her autobiography. She was the first Black woman in England to publish a narrative of the realities of slavery, which played an instrumental role in turning the British public opinion against human enslavement.

Mary Prince’s book was instrumental in helping to dismantle slavery across the Caribbean and Bermuda. When naming her a National Hero in 2012, the Bermuda Government spoke of the book as “a first-hand description of the brutalities of enslavement, released at a time when slavery was still legal in the British Caribbean colonies and Bermuda, it had a galvanising effect on the anti-slavery movement. Mary Prince spoke of slavery with the authority of personal experience.”

Just two years after the publication of her narrative, the Slavery Abolition Act came into effect across most British colonies in 1834, bringing legal emancipation to thousands of enslaved people, including those in Bermuda. Mary Prince’s voice remains one of the most significant testimonies of the abolitionist era and continues to inspire conversations about human rights, equality and justice.

Today, Mary Prince Day ensures that her legacy is remembered by future generations and recognizes the important role Bermudians played in the wider history of abolition.

Cup Match weekend

After August 1^st, 1834, Emancipation Day celebrations evolved from family gatherings to larger community celebrations featuring music, dancing, traditional Bermudian food, friendly competition and sport.

The celebrations were centered around a friendly game of cricket between men from the east of the island (St. Georges) and the west (Somerset). After decades of friendly cricket matches, the two Friendly Societies decided to mark the annual game with a trophy in 1901. Over the next year, members raised funds for a silver trophy which was introduced in 1902.

Cup Match became an opportunity not only to remember the past but also to celebrate Bermudian identity and strengthen community bonds.

Today, Bermudians show support for their team by wearing the official colours; red and navy for Somerset and light blue and navy for St. Georges.

More Than a Sporting Event

Cup Match has evolved into one of Bermuda’s largest cultural celebrations. Beyond the cricket, the holiday is marked by concerts, camping, family reunions, community events and the enjoyment of traditional Bermudian cuisine, including fish sandwiches and local favourites.

The event also highlights the famous Cup Match Classic, where attendees showcase colourful fashion, creative hats and a vibrant social atmosphere. It is a celebration that brings together people of all ages and backgrounds, whether they attend the cricket, gather with family or simply enjoy the holiday across the island.

For Bermudians living overseas, Cup Match remains a powerful connection to home, with many travelling back to Bermuda each year or following the match from abroad.