Colors of Georgetown - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Ethnic diversity has found its reflection in all spheres of life of the indigenous people. Local people have a very interesting and unusual culture and traditions. Every resident of the city can tell tourists many interesting stories and legends about his or her glorious ancestors. Despite the fact that some of these great and heroic deeds happened many centuries ago, locals are still proud of them. Even though Georgetown is home to people of different nationalities, inter-ethnic relations can be characterized as calm and friendly. Local people are quite calm and dispassionate. Tourists often praise their excellent sense of humor.

Indigenous people are optimists, and their sense of humor is tactful and absolutely not offensive. The talent of entertaining everyone without hurting anyone’s feelings is one of the most striking features of the national character. That said, residents of Georgetown do not like to express their feelings openly. It doesn’t matter whether they are extremely happy or very sad, locals will not rush to share their emotions with others.

Religious canons are of a great importance for local people, but they have their own understanding of religion. There is an explanation to that – most people keep worshipping different gods and spirits of nature. These century-old traditions are particularly noticeable during different national holidays. Many rituals and traditions were formed many centuries ago. For example, during one of the local festivals, people rub their skin with chili pepper in order to protect themselves from vampires. This ritual may look quite strange to tourists, but locals believe in its importance and power. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

During a stroll in a wood, tourists may also notice how locals worship certain plants. That is a way to connect with spirits of nature. Needless to say, local people treat these cult places with big honor and responsibility. They always visit these sacral areas in special clothes. Tourists are also recommended to put on something more formal and leave favorite denim pants and a t-shirt for another occasion. By the way, there are no strict rules regarding everyday clothes in the city. Perhaps, tourists shouldn’t wear sports clothes when they plan to take a stroll on the city’s streets as such clothes is a symbol of a low social status.

Pirates Week Festival is one more colorful and exciting event that tourists will definitely remember. The festival usually takes place in November. Don’t forget to take kids to see this colorful parade because children are usually in love with pirates. During the Pirates Week Festival, visitors will see local people dressed as pirates. Locals do not only entertain tourists, but they also participate in the best costume contest. There is also a traditional fair trade, during which guests of the event can purchase pirate-related items and other souvenirs. Energetic music and dancing never stop during the festival. All sportsmen are welcome to participate in 5- and 10-kilometer marathons. Of course, it is impossible to imagine this festival without local delicacies and cruises that become particularly popular during this time of the year. Pirates Week Festival takes place on the central streets of the city, while the exhibition of sailing vessels takes place at Seven Mile Beach.

The capital of the Cayman Islands is also famous as the location of the Cayman Festival of Arts, or, as locals informally call it, Cayfest. The popular event takes place in Harquail Theater and at Seven Mile Beach that hosts a regatta and an exhibition of sailing vessels. As a rule, the event takes place in April. The large schedule of the event usually includes various performances, art exhibitions, photo exhibitions, theatre plays, music concerts, a fair trade with a broad range of hand-made items, a treasure hunting game, and numerous cooking and music contests. There is even a mini-festival during Cayman Festival of Arts. It is called Gimistory Festival, a festival of storytelling.

Gourmets prefer to visit Georgetown at the end of January, when the city hosts Taste of Cayman Food and Wine Festival. Numerous restaurants in the center of the city participate in this event and offer a special interesting menu. Besides that, it is possible to try many national cuisine dishes and delicacies. Of course, chefs prepare dishes from different cuisines of the world. During Taste of Cayman Food and Wine Festival, visitors can participate in different cooking contests, games for children, master classes, and meetings. The event has an incredibly friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Many visitors say that they soon feel like they have known other participants for many years.

The Queen’s birthday is a widely celebrated holiday on the Cayman Islands. It takes place on June 9. Without a doubt, the capital of the country hosts the largest events associated with the holiday. A military parade and colorful fireworks are the traditional ways to honor the Queen. As a rule, the parade starts from Legislative Assembly. Fans of flowers and marvelous performances prefer to visit the Cayman Islands at the end of February. This is the time when the country hosts Cayman Islands Orchid Show, during which attendees can see the most interesting plants, including the famous banana orchid that has become one of the symbols of the Cayman Islands. Besides aesthetic feel, a visit to this festival will be an educative one – visitors will learn many peculiarities about growing different types of orchids. The event traditionally takes place in Queen