It is the highlight of the summer.

Two days when the entire Island comes to a halt to revel in bacchanalia. From its humble post-slavery origins, Cup Match has grown into the premier sporting and social event in Bermuda.

Each year, thousands brave the hot sun to sport the latest fashions, consume lots of food and drink, enjoy plenty of socialising, and, yes, occasionally catch a glimpse of some cricket.

While the purist may argue that the cricket on the field has today taken a back seat to the merriment off field, the annual summer celebration owes much of its existence to Bermudians' desire to socialise.

Cup Match has its roots with the August 1, 1834 emancipation of slaves by King William IV.

On that date 4,000 slaves were given their freedom in Bermuda and hence forth Emancipation Day became a day synonymous with joy and hope.

Emancipation Day was an annual opportunity for blacks to get together and celebrate their freedom via picnics and other gatherings, and it was through one of those social events in which Cup Match arose.

"People would celebrate Emancipation Day with a picnic,'' said Louis DeSilva, president of St. George's Cricket Club. "Cricket was played at the celebrations by the two main lodges -- which were from St.George's and Somerset.

"The game grew bigger and bigger and outgrew the picnic and eventually they decided to make it into a cricket game where people took picnic lunches.'' After checking several sources, including the book `Cup Match `91, Celebrating 90 Years', Mr. DeSilva determined that it was after the 1901 cricket match, when St. George's won the game by just a run, that it was first suggested that the teams play for a `cup'.

"I believe it was a Somerset man who suggested that they should play for a cup,'' recalled Mr. DeSilva. "It was while he was walking down Barrack Hill.

"On their way down to the field, the players stopped at Market Square in St.

George's and held a meeting. They decided that Henry T. Cann should place an order for a sterling silver cup and that they would split the 20 guineas cost.'' The first official Cup Match was held in 1902 with the teams from the east and western lodges playing three matches. The teams played for the same sterling silver cup that is still used today, some 98 years later.

"We bring it out of the bank safe only for the presentations,'' explained Mr.

DeSilva. "The winning teams parades around with a copy of the cup.'' Over the last 98 years, Cup Match has evolved into one of the most beloved holidays on the local calender.

Mr. DeSilva said the event grew in popularity thanks to the importance of the family unit which was a major component of the annual get-together.

"At that time families were important,'' he explained. "The event was a big family gathering and that fact provided it with a lot of drawing power.

"The way transportation was at that time, Cup Match provided people the opportunity to see each other, especially those families that lived at either end of the Island. That's why it was such a big family draw.'' When the working class began taking the day off to attend the game, Government decided to declare the first day of Cup Match an official holiday.

Later in the 1940's, Cup Match was expanded from a one-day festival into a two-day Island-wide celebration.

"I believe it is the only sporting event in the world where the Government declares a two-day holiday,'' Mr. DeSilva pointed out. "I know of no other place where this happens.'' Cup Match became a two-day holiday in 1944 after the Government bowed to public pressure for a 48-hour celebration.

"The Governor was petitioned to have a two-day holiday,'' he said. "The Thursday was a holiday, Emancipation Day, and people just would not go to work on the Friday.

"People refused to go to work so there were manpower shortages. They moved Somers Day, a holiday in honour of British admiral Sir George Somers, to the Friday and in 1944 the two-day holiday came into effect.'' Today, Cup Match has evolved into more than just a cricket game between opposite ends of the Island.

Thanks to the carnival-like atmosphere surrounding the field, complete with Calypso music and Crown and Anchor, the crowd has plenty to keep them occupied while waiting for the players to hit a six.

But Mr. DeSilva admitted that in recent years the event may have started to lose the family appeal that made it so popular over the years.

However, he insists that this was something that Cup Match officials wanted to reverse.

"Cup Match has always been a big family thing until here of late,'' he said.

"Some people see Cup Match as a chance to leave the little ones at home and have a good time. But we are trying to bring it back.'' Mr. DeSilva said officials were working on providing an attraction for the youngest of spectators at future matches.

"We are making arrangements for a kiddie land for the 2001 game,'' he revealed.

Officials are also trying to reverse the alarming trend of locals using the holiday for a quick weekend getaway instead of supporting a local tradition.

This year, Mr. DeSilva said officials had planned to make Cup Match 1999 better than ever in hopes of luring spectators back.

"This year we've got some sponsors on board and we will be giving away prizes like trips and bikes,'' he explained.

"In honour of the International Year of Older Persons, the elderly will be allowed in free and there will be a special draw for them.

"There will be a concert which will be free with Friday's admission. The concert will go on until midnight and Issac Hayes will be there. There will also be some great give-aways at that concert.

"A lot of people choose to travel abroad instead of staying on the Island and attending Cup Match,'' he said.

"We are making a deliberate attempt to bring them back.'' And in a bid to accommodate the general public and visitors, Cup Match 1999 will also feature more public seating than has been available in recent years.

"We have given a lot more seating space,'' he explained. "We have sold less spots to groups. While we are trying to balance the two, we are definitely trying to cater more to the general public this year.'' Cup Match fever: Music, food, and Crown and Anchor all help to make Cup Match more than just a cricket match. The two-day holiday has evolved from its humble roots into Bermuda's premier social/sporting event. Whether you go to enjoy cricket, check out the fashions or the atmosphere, Cup Match is an occasion not to be missed! CRICKET CRI CROWN & ANCHOR GAMBLING GAM