End of Easter–Harvest Day

Having attended the religious Easter procession and mass gave us a lot of cred from the locals – lots of people noticed and have commented on it, the dive master, our land lord and of course our neighbor lady. So, to continue on out Easter celebration – Easter Monday in Carriacou means Harvest. From being an almost completely sleeping village during the week end, Monday morning there was smoke coming out of every outdoor oven and foods being sold everywhere. Everyone was preparing for the Harvest at the church (which happens to be next door to us).

Meats being sold in open air on the street, cut by a machete and handed to the recipient by hand, brought home by the buyer in a plastic bag (that they have to bring themselves)

Our neighbor lady (yes – she IS 90 years old!) cooking in her home made outdoor oven

Party people on the way to the Harvest

Arriving at the church, the neighbor lady was selling home made cake and candy outside the entrance.

In the entrance, some people were selling second hand clothes, the baptismal font was covered in clothes!

Clothes hunting in the Baptismal font!

But what really made the party was the music – from huge broken speakers roared an *oopmf oopmf* making it difficult for one to even think. Catholic hymns? Oh no, loud soca “nasty music” and reggae, and some Kenny Rogers to top it all. The only thing giving a hint that we were attending a religious feast was a pause in the music for the Harvest blessing. Accompanied by a prayer, a man threw (holy?) water on the attendants to bless this years harvest. Then – the music was turned on again. And it kept on going until around midnight – never thought I would have trouble sleeping because of a church party.

We spent the afternoon at the party socializing and buying this and that. Especially the kids had fun. F was popular, every one here loves babies and wanted to carry her around (which they could) and E was given immense amounts of candy, more than she has probably had her whole life.

Selling of lots of things (mostly edible)

Had to add this picture because of the pink outfit to the left – very typical Grenada (and very un-churchy? Not here!)

Being slightly more prepared after the previous religious lessons to E, I told her that we were now celebrating that Jesus came back, he woke up just like Snow white (that we are currently reading on repeat). At the church she found a cross, thought for a while, and said that I was wrong, he didn’t come back, because he was not on the cross. The story will definitely continue….

F didn’t care too much about religion, but thought the balloon was most interesting.

We left at around five (to high complaints from the locals – what ALREADY???) and brought dinner from the Harvest; Fried chicken, fried fish cakes and Roti. Not great- at all – today we are all a bit queasy. But fun we had!