"There's no place in Trinidad like Santa Cruz." That's the sentiment of most people who've lived in the area all their lives. People who've purchased homes within the past ten years, feel just the same. And those who visit are often caught thinking aloud, "up here nice to live boy!" More than merely residing here, Santa Cruz, equipped with its natural scenery, picturesque mountains and cold but soft Christmas breezes, make for a one of a kind place to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Cocoa tea-Rich in aroma and taste
Christmas in Santa Cruz is filled with tradition. At breakfast today, families will sit together sipping hot cocoa tea and eating home made bread with ham. The older folks would have known of the days when they'd pick cocoa straight off the trees at Stollmeyer's estate weeks prior to Christmas, sunned their beans, and eventually produced their own cocoa balls to make chocolate tea on Christmas morning. But although that tradition is fast slipping away, the Santa Cruz Christmas is an immovable custom. Pastelles, paime, ginger beer, punch-de-crème, salt ham cooked in pitch oil tins, and pork on Christmas day, are all strong elements of the season in the Cruz. Sorrel is often the beverage of choice when the elaborate meal is served by the women of the house, and the constant embrace of a neighbour or friend throughout the day, is no strange occurrence.
Family love and love for the Laras
They often say, Santa Cruz people-the native Santa Cruzians that is, are really joyous people. They love to give, celebrate and they love to engage in their spirituous liquor of choice-that's no lie. But Santa Cruz people believe in family and with large families often seen living among each other in villages like Hololo, La Pastora and areas of Cantaro Village, traditions of the past, especially those of Christmas, have been kept alive. The Lara Brothers are respected in their hometown of Sam Boucaud, Santa Cruz, just as much as cricket hero, Brian Lara. And throughout the season, the Lara Brothers' verses can be heard at the local bars in the area, live on location.
Food, laughter and tradition
Today as the country, and the rest of the world celebrates the birth of Christ, the people of Santa Cruz, many of whom would've gone to bed in the wee hours of this morning-thanks to tradition-are celebrated for who they are. Their joy as a people spills over at Christmas. A native Santa Cruzian believes in cooking more food than is truly needed in the house, for God forbid someone should happen to pass through and the pot be bare. For this reason and many others like it, people from Port-of-Spain and even eastern boroughs of Trinidad, visit homes of friends in the Cruz at Christmas time.
They come, knowing that a pig may be cooked on an outdoor fire, amid the contagious laughter of people like the Alfred's of La Pastora and the Reyes of the same village. They come, knowing that the music of the season will blare from each home, and the smells of good food will be compounded by the taste they're sure to receive. Today, Santa Cruz is the place to be, because while the rest of the nation may have lost elements of a true traditional Trini Christmas, this is one place you're bound to be reminded, of how it feels to spend Christmas in T&T.
Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year from a native Santa Cruzian!
Let's keep tradition alive.