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Caribbean Santa
Item # 11340
It might come as a surprise to know that the Caribbean Christmas is full of as much celebration and fanfare as America and European Christmas festivities. One island in particular, the Grand Cayman, has a wonderful mix of ethnic and Christian traditions that delight all who live there or visit this little spot of paradise. The Grand Cayman is a small island, which lies just 90 miles south of Cuba in the warm Caribbean currents. It is noted for its pure white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, stingrays and friendly people. The Cayman, as part of the British West Indies, shares its heritage with Scotland and England and it is not uncommon to hear a Scottish brogue in the language spoken there. Deeply religious, the people of the Cayman Islands celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ and a time to gather with the close-knit community, family and friends. In olden times, before the days of cruise ships and developers, families lived in small cottages near the ocean. One of the first preparations for Christmas was "backing sand. Weeks before Christmas, on a moonlit night, women and children would head for the beach carrying baskets. Each basket was filled with white sand and hauled back home where it was deposited in neat piles all over the yard. Just before Christmas Day, the sand was spread smooth around the yard and swept with twig brooms, creating a lovely intricate pattern on the sand. The men then place collected conch shells all around the yard and up the walk to the front door. These decorations cost no money and were beautiful. Christmas was a time for "new clothes" which were worn at a Christmas parade. Singing bands, noisemakers and firecrackers were all part of the boisterous celebrations. As in most cultures, food is especially important in Grand Cayman at Christmas time. Women spend weeks preparing dark rum- flavored fruitcakes and date breads. Christmas dinner might consist of turtle stew or a special beef dish seasoned with hot peppers and containing cassava, yam or plantain. Christmas Day is spent in church, where children and grown-ups partake in the traditional service. Caymanian men at sea try to schedule their leave time to be home for Christmas, filling the harbors with returning boats carrying mail and gifts. Today, electric lights trim houses and climb up tall palm trees, washing the island in thousands of twinkling golden lights, adding to the magic of Christmas in the Cayman Islands.
Caribbean Santa Pipka Santas Reflections Of Christmas Item # 11340
It might come as a surprise to know that the Caribbean Christmas is full of as much celebration and fanfare as America and European Christmas festivities. One island in particular, t
Price: $59.97
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