Good Friday Traditions in Bermuda

Kite flying has been a Good Friday tradition in Bermuda for many years. I have heard several variations on the story of how the kite tradition started, as follows:

(1) The British Army in Bermuda used kites to plan telephone pole routes. Then, a Sunday school teacher, who had connections to the Army, used a kite to help explain Jesus' ascension to Heaven after the crucifixion.
(2) The cross pieces of wood used to make a kite represent the Cross and serve as a reminder of the Christian tradition around Easter.
(3) It's a reason for families to get outside together, do something fun, and welcome springtime.

Eric, Abby, and I bought a kite and went to Horseshoe Bay which is Kite Central on Good Friday. We soon discovered that a star-shaped kite is NOT the best shape for successful kite flying. Try as they might, Eric and Abby could not keep the thing in the air. So, we walked around the beach and admired other folks' successfully flying kites. Several people were eating fish cakes sandwiched between hot cross buns, another Bermuda Good Friday tradition.

When we came home from the beach, our next door neighbors gave us both a homemade kite and a dragonfly kite so Abby could be part of the fun in our neighborhood. (Their kite was so high that Eric joked that they should have attached an aircraft navigational warning light on it.) The wind was a bit strong for the homemade kite which was made of tissue paper and soon ripped, but the dragonfly kite was splendid. Our next door neighbors also thoughtfully shared some of their traditional Easter rum punch with us.

MUCH later that night, some people who live across the street from us on Ramgoat Hill hosted a Reggae party, complete with loud speakers, that went on well into the morning. Yet another Good Friday tradition?? Jesus must have been a Reggae fan. Who knew?