(CMR) Easter is a special time in the Caribbean not only for Christians; each country has its own traditions that citizens look forward to at this time of year.
The Cayman Islands has its own set of traditions that families enjoy. One of the biggest Easter traditions in the Cayman Islands is camping. Families take to the beach where they pitch tents and have a good time for the weekend.
The fun continues on Easter Monday with the annual Kitefest celebrated at Kaibo. Kitefest is a free beach event where the age-old practice of kite flying is revived.
Other countries such as Jamaica and Barbados also enjoy kite flying at Easter. Kite flying and making is a serious tradition practiced during the Easter holiday. Kite makers in Barbados fashion their kites and then go to the beaches to fly them. In Jamaica, Kite festivals are also a popular tradition, with persons competing to see who can make the biggest and the most creative kites.
Trinidad and Tobago is also known for kite flying at Easter. The flying of large 12 and 16-foot kites, aka Mad Bulls, are popular in the twin islands. These huge kites are usually flown on Easter Sunday at the Queens Park Savannah, where families come out in large numbers for the grand Easter Kite Flying competition.
Hot cross buns, made with raisins and dried fruit and adorned with a cross made out of frosting, are popular food items during Easter in the Caribbean. In Jamaica, the traditional Easter bun comes in varying sizes and is usually eaten with cheese. It is certainly a feature at breakfast and dinner tables across the region during Easter.
Eggs have become synonymous with Easter across the world; however, the tradition is different in the Caribbean. In countries such as Barbados and Jamaica Eggs are not colored and hidden on the beaches; instead, egg whites are dropped in Holy Water on Maundy Thursday. By Good Friday, the egg whites are supposed to display a pattern. Locals use these patterns to predict the future.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
