Written By Morritt's
5 Reasons to Celebrate Cayman
On May 10th 1503, the explorer Christopher Columbus was on his fourth voyage to the Western Hemisphere, when he and his crew spotted Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.
At the time, Columbus had much to be concerned about. Winds had steered his ships off course, and they were in awful condition due to storm damage and termites.
Anxious to reach Santo Domingo for aid, the crew’s sighting of our islands was less of a momentous discovery and more of a passing observation. In the ship’s journal that day, it was briefly noted that the men had spotted “two very small and low islands, full of tortoises”.
While our discovery may have been underwhelming for Columbus and his crew, our evolution was anything but. Discovery Day is commemorated every year in Cayman, not just to mark the day we were ‘found’ – but to celebrate everything that makes our small islands larger than life.
Here are our top 5 reasons to celebrate Cayman this Discovery Day:
1. Cayman’s people
You will hear time and time again that nothing beats the hospitality of our locals. We are the islands where strangers still greet each other with smiles. Hitchhikers still catch rides without worry. And virtually anybody will chat with you good-naturedly about the weather.
However, more than that, the people of Cayman are individuals with unique personalities. This community is home to storytellers, musicians, thinkers, go-getters and everything in-between. We are hard-working and fun-loving, but we are all different – and that’s what true Caymankind is!
2. Cayman’s folk music
Traditional Caymanian folk or “kitchen” music is storytelling at its finest. In days gone by, impromptu dances and celebrations were struck up in Caymanian kitchens, instigated by a lively band. Song lyrics enthusiastically regaled tales of community gossip, relationships, and family dynamics. The end result was a blend of European sounds, African rhythms, and a party to remember!
These old songs are an echo of our past, and yet very little is documented on Cayman’s traditional folk music. In 2010, local musician Natasha Kozaily published her thesis on the music of Julia Hydes – a legendary musician who played a major role in shaping the evolution of Caymanian folk songs.
Natasha’s thesis is an invaluable resource which unravels the history of folk music and in doing so, uncovers untold stories of Cayman from a bygone era.
3. Our ecosystem
Credit: Redfern Natural History Productions
The Cayman Islands is a paradise of powdery-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, diverse marine life, ancient mangrove forests, and unique species of flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world.
We are intrinsically connected to nature. Our farming and seafaring ancestors had a deep understanding and appreciation for the land and sea. Times may have changed, but our reliance on the environment has not. We depend on our environment to purify our air, regulate our climate and protect our land from erosion and flooding.
Over the last few years, overdevelopment, mass tourism and a lack of clean energy have raised questions around Cayman’s sustainability. The good news is, it is not too late to make a change.
Non-profits like The National Trust, Plastic Free Cayman, and the Central Caribbean Marine Institute are just a few examples of the work being done to give back to nature just as much as it has provided for us.
4. Our carnivals
Credit: Cayman .Property Videos
Here in Cayman, we know how to throw a party. Our years are punctuated with lively carnivals that bring together people of all backgrounds. Carnivals are celebrated throughout the Caribbean, and they are a joyous array of music, dance and pageantry. Think Mardi Gras, but with soca music!
The three main festivals here are Pirates Week, Batabano, and CayMAS. Each one embodies the spirit of Cayman in their own way!
5. Our food
There is a reason the phrase “love ya like cook food” is popular in Cayman. We love to eat! Cooking is an expression of connections and cultural identity. Sometimes it doesn’t even matter what’s on the table, since half the pleasure of a home-cooked meal is who you’re eating it with.
Surrounded by ocean, it is no surprise that seafood is a staple in most Caymanian dishes. Conch stew, fish fry, Cayman-style lobster and turtle stew are just a few local favourites.
And of course we’d be remiss to not mention Cayman-style beef. Back in ‘the old days’, beef was a rare and special treat that was often saved for Christmas time. It must have been worth waiting the whole year for, because the buttery melt-in-your-mouth meat is more of an experience than anything else.
Here in Cayman, food is more than just food – it’s comfort and belonging. It’s handed-down recipes, stories around the table, and memories with the ones we love.
Recommended Reading.
Top 5 Cayman Heritage Sites You Have to See
For such small islands, we really do pack a punch when it comes to our culture and heritage! The Cayman Islands holds a rich tapestry of historical events, and there are many places you can go to experience this history first hand.
It is no surprise then, that with National Heritage Day this month, we simply had to mention a few of our favourite local heritage sites and places of interest. They are definitely worth a visit, even if you’ve already been.
1. Pedro St. James
Known simply as Pedro Castle to most locals, this great house and its grounds date all the way back to the 18th century. Built by slaves, Pedro St. James was originally owned by an Englishman named William Eden, with the surrounding grounds serving as a plantation. No other structure like this existed in Cayman at the time, and we are certain it must have been quite a sight to behold.
It is no surprise then that Pedro St. James became a key meeting place for principal inhabitants and subsequently, has seen a number of historical events occur within its walls. Most famously, it was the venue for an 1831 meeting where Cayman decided it would form its own elected parliament. Just a few years later, in 1835, court was held at Pedro St. James to issue a proclamation that would end slavery in the British Empire.
Today, Pedro St. James is open for visitors. You are welcome to explore the house and grounds on your own, or have a guided tour (which is very much recommended!). Don’t forget to check out the immersive theatre, which tells the story of the islands and how this beautiful home came to be.
2. Miss Lassie’s House
The quaint seaside cottage with blue and white shutters is a familiar site for anyone who has driven down South Sound. Affectionately known today as Miss Lassie’s house, it was built in 1881 by the father and grandfather of Gladwyn K “Lassie” Bush.
In the early 1900s, the house became a rest stop for residents travelling from the Eastern districts into George Town for trading. With no cars on the island, this was often a day-long journey by foot or donkey, so travellers were grateful for the hammocks and cool breeze coming in from the ocean. Here they could rest for a while before continuing on.
Miss Lassie was born in 1914, and she shared the house with her mother, father and eleven older siblings. At the age of 62 she began painting after what she described as a visionary experience. Through her work, Miss Lassie transformed the house into a living piece of art. Walls, windows and furnishings were decorated with her themed paintings, often depicting biblical or historic scenes.
Since her death in 2003, her home has been protected by the Cayman government and was added to the World Monument Fund’s 2012 Watch List, sharing the company of amazing international sites such as the Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal and Valley of the Kings.
3. Watlers Cemetary
The Watler family cemetery dates way back to the early 19th century, but the cemetery is believed to have been in use well before this. During this time, it was custom for families to set aside a portion of their family land for a graveyard, rather than burying their loved ones in big public cemeteries like we do today.
At the time beach land was considered worthless. Crops could not be grown in the sand, and beach areas posed a risk of storm and flood damage. This is why you will see so many beachside graveyards in Cayman. The sand was also much easier to dig through than the inland island rock.
What makes the graves at old burial sites like Watlers Cemetery unique, is the style of the markers placed on top of some of the older graves. Shaped like long houses, these unusual markers protect the casket from storms. Each ‘house’ bears a small mahogany panel with an inscription of the name of the deceased. Though the stone markers have survived the centuries, unfortunately many of the wooden panels with their inscriptions have faded or completely eroded away.
You will see these house-shaped grave markers in other older Cayman cemeteries, and they are also found in medieval English and Welsh graveyards. In other parts of the Caribbean, you can also find similar markers that date back to the early 1600s.
Old cemeteries like Watlers Cemetery are special because they offer insight on past social customs and events. They are an irreplaceable historical resource and an important record of Cayman’s social history.
4. East End Lighthouse Park
Lighthouses have long served as trusty navigational aids for voyaging ships. In the late 1800s, East End was given an official port of entry for local boats going on fishing and turtling trips, as well as incoming and outgoing freight and mail ships. As a result, Grand Cayman’s first lighthouse was erected in East End on Gorling Bluff. It was the highest point in the district, and offered a clear view out onto the reef. This lighthouse was simply a ship’s mast with a kerosene lamp at the top. 18 years later, a much sturdier structure was built nearby. This lighthouse was also kerosene powered, with two lighthouse attendants appointed to maintain it.
The lighthouse remained in service until 1937, when the British Government required all three islands to be equipped with more modern navigational lights. The new lights were automatic gas controlled, so they could be left unattended for up to six months, and thus, the job of lighthouse keepers ceased to exist.
Now, the lighthouse is still in operation, although the current light is solar powered. Both the older lighthouse and the newer lighthouse can be visited.
5. Fort George
Piracy was dwindling by the end of the 1700s, but there was still plenty of lawless activity on the seas. At the time Grand Cayman was experiencing attacks from Spanish invaders, and so Fort George was built in 1790.
Made from coral and limestone, its design was based on British forts of the time, with an oval base, cannons, and five-foot thick walls on the sea-facing side.
During World War II, Fort George was used by the members of the Home Guard. Their barracks were located next to the fort, and they used a tree growing within the walls as a lookout post. There they would watch closely for German submarines, which often patrolled Caribbean waters in search for English-bound merchant ships. A US Naval base was also set up near Fort George behind the George Town Library.
Today very little remains of Fort George’s original structure. In 1972, a local businessman was frustrated that he was unable to develop the land Fort George stood on. When he eventually took matters into his own hands by demolishing sections of the fort, he was stopped by concerned citizens and further damage was prevented.
The fort’s remains were donated to the National Trust in 1987. Some of the ruins can still be seen, as well as a replica lookout house that would have been used all those years ago. It is worth a visit if you find yourself in the George Town harbour area and fancy learning a few thrilling stories of past invasions and citizens banding together to protect their little island.
April 18
