The Student Link Blog
Bringing Tradition into the New Year
Post by UK Student Ambassador, Kayla Jeffers
Firstly, I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year! Over the Christmas holidays, I was lucky enough to escape the cold and head back home to Cayman. There’s nothing quite like a Cayman Christmas, filled with sunshine, Cayman-style beef, conch stew and Christmas breeze. While being home, I was lucky enough to enjoy the company of many older Caymanians who were quick to fill my head with nostalgic stories of the past and provide helpful advice on how to navigate life as I get older.
By having these wonderful interactions, I began to think about the importance of preserving our culture as Caymanians, both locally and within the diaspora, as our culture is a testament to our rich history and identity.
As we’ve just entered a new year, I know that many of us are inclined to create resolutions with the aim to develop new habits and hobbies. With this in mind, I would like to strongly encourage fellow Caymanians to become more connected to their roots and incorporate an aspect of Caymanian culture into their resolutions this year. For those living abroad it may seem more difficult to achieve being so far from home, as there may be limited resources. However, there are various ways in which culture can be preserved and passed on.
Here are a few recommendations on how to incorporate Caymanian culture into your day-to-day life:
- Supporting local artists (in person and online).
- Speaking with older family members about the past and learning through their firsthand experiences.
- Furthering your knowledge on Caymanian culture through reading books or articles.
- Spending time with other Caymanians.
- Learning traditional art-forms. For example, learning traditional folk songs or weaving silver thatch.
- Learning traditional recipes such as Cassava Cake, Custard Top Cornbread and Conch Fritters.
- Volunteering with cultural institutions such as the CI National Museum, CNCF and National Gallery.
- Practicing Caymankindness.
Through conscious efforts and appreciation, we can contribute to the resilience and continuity of our culture. I hope that in reading this you are inspired to be mindful of ways in which traditions can be carried on for years to come.
Read about Kayla Jeffers here.
Photo credit: Cayman Day Culture Corner