Christmas in the Bay Islands
Date: 12/21/2004The first signs of Christmas appeared here on Roatan the first of December. Even in this 80-degree weather, we could tell Christmas was coming.
We were sitting on our deck overlooking the green valley below, watching the cruise ships coming into port for the day. There's no snow on the peaks of the big hills we call mountains here; nevertheless, a tractor-trailer appeared bearing a Christmas tree. We sipped a second cup of tea that tropical morning while workmen dug a hole, and, before long, a beautiful Honduran pine tree stood out, looking like no other in the valley. Smaller trees have since been placed around the big tree, and all have been decorated with large ornaments and lots of light strands, and they're now being watched over by snowman and Santa Claus figures.
The official start of the Christmas celebration came three nights later with schoolchildren parading through the town of Coxon Hole, playing drums and singing songs. The festivities culminated with the official lighting of the tree. Fifteen minutes of dazzling fireworks followed. For us, in our perch high above the town, the extravagant light display played out at eye level right in front of us! We have the best seat on the island for fireworks displays, we discovered.
The 18th of December is another day everyone waited for. Girls in pretty dresses, boys in island formal wear, even the adults crowd together to catch a first glimpse of Santa; here, his sleigh is a boat, his reindeer twin Johnson 150s. He jumps onto the beach, climbs onto the stage built for the occasion, and invites the children to sit on his lap and whisper their dreams in his ear. Then it's candy for all! This is the greatest day of the year, some say.
Of course, there was the year the boat sank on the way into the beach, and Santa had to swim ashore…and the year the stage collapsed under the weight of an extra-large Santa...all we saw for a while were his boots pointed skyward…
That's Christmas in the islands...
Our family would like to wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season and a joyous New Year.
Janine Goben
For International Living in Honduras
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