Christmas in Cayman 2021

By Flynn Bush

Every year, for almost the past decade, I have written a piece on Christmas to be featured in this publication. Recalling our Caymanian traditions and customs, highlighting the modern practices, and speaking of the general atmosphere during the holiday season are the usual guiding principles of these articles. Those all provide plenty of fodder for discussion and allow me to acquaint the readers with the true “Christmas in Cayman.” Since 2020, around about March, things have been really different. There has been a little “bug” that has caused all sorts of disruption around the world; and not in a good way. Yes, my friends, covid-19 is a menace.

Actually, this article I am writing right now is shaping up to look quite different than I thought it would just a few weeks ago. You see, in spite of the pandemic, it was looking like Christmas would be able to be a little closer to normal. Just like me, a lot of residents of our three beloved islands were looking forward to get-togethers with friends and family. Caymanians, in particular, were anticipating attending church, visiting loved ones, and walking through the lights at the Crighton or Bodden residences. Perhaps it would be while wearing masks but, it still seemed possible; and that made us happy to think about that.

Now, with the arrival of the omicron variant of that hated virus, things have changed again. Restrictions have increased and everyone is on high alert, it seems. While we are not in a lockdown, the increase in infections and the ability of the new variant to pass easier from person to person among even the fully vaccinated, has put a damper on our plans. Truly, the wise among us realize that we have to be careful and protect those around us that we care about. To do that, there is really only one way and that is to limit or eliminate contact. There are some of us who will not be visiting their families, or going to church, or inviting anyone over for dinner. It is not fear; but rather, it is respect and love for those who mean so much to us that drives us to do this.

If you all stop and consider for a moment that over two thousand years ago, God came to us in the form of a baby, Jesus. His message was one of love and peace, and his teachings stressed the need for us to love others. So, as we act to protect our loved ones, and the community as a whole, we are actually honoring God. We simply need to remember the reason for the season and truly act in kindness and love toward others. That is something that also hearkens to our Caymanian traditions as well. May God bless us all.