Easter in the islands
Joyous spirit of renewal
virginvoices.com staff
Marked by spring festivals, and warmer winds, Easter ushers in a spirit of renewal here. Holiday traditions are steeped in the region’s Spanish, English, French, and Dutch cultures.
Street parades dominate Holy Week in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
In Viejo San Juan, a reenactment on Good Friday, includes a procession complete with a figure representing Christ carrying the cross. It begins on Calle Cristo, near San Juan's Cathedral, and weaves its way through the streets of the Old City.
In the Dominican Republic a similar procession in Santo Domingo is known as Santo Sepulero.
Check out Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands for their annual Easter celebrationhere.
An ancient Easter ritual, which still continues in Trinidad, is the beating of the Bobolee .An effigy, which represents Judas, who betrayed Christ, is mounted in a public spot. Passers by are encouraged to express their anger by punching, kicking or slapping it until it is destroyed.
Eggs have long been a symbol of renewal in Easter celebration. In Barbados egg whites, left in a glass in the sun on Good Friday, are reported to help foresee the future by Easter. Some believe the shape of the coagulated white will present an image, which can provide insight about what lies ahead.
Kites, thought to represent Christ’s ascension to heaven, play a colorful role in many Easter activities, especially in Barbados, and Guyana, which host a kite festival on Easter Monday. In the past the Kites were made by hand with wooden struts in the shape of a cross. But today, many are store bought.
Though traditions and celebrations vary, Easter in the Caribbean is universally considered a joyous occasion.Many islands begin Easter observances by closing offices on Good Friday, and do not open them again until after Easter Monday.
Easter Sunday and Monday are reserved for gatherings with family and friends for special dinners, celebrations and trips to the beach.
Photo: Children enjoying kites flying, which during Easter is popular for its symbolism of Christ's ascension to heaven.
Photo courtesy Living Barbados
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