Time frames and tradition of Christmas in Jamaica

Jamaica becomes overcome with Christmas fever right at the same time Christmas breeze starts to blow (north east trade wind). The preparation for Christmas begins about the beginning of November. The Christmas plays are cast and the choirs start practicing Christmas Carols.

The first signs of Christmas begins when people start painting their houses and getting their yards landscaped and cleaned. Flower beds are weeded and mulched, and fruit trees are white washed. The entire neighborhood gets a face-lift. The neighborhood sidewalks are cleaned and weeded by people who are given Christmas work which is subsidized by the government.

Jamaicans do most of their shopping for Christmas gifts at grand market. Grand market is shopping that goes on all day, and continue way past 2 am on Christmas eve. All the stores, the markets and restaurants stay open and people are out shopping and walking around. This is where children pick out their toys and clothes for Christmas.

Jamaica has a long standing tradition of giving edible gifts for Christmas. Crates of sodas are bought for the children. Typically Jamaicans drink homemade juices at home. Store bought gifts are exchanged at school and at work. Sorrel drink which is a traditional Christmas drink is given as gifts at Christmas. The traditional Christmas cake which is made with lots of fruit soaked in rum for half a year is a popular gift item. Jamaican rum, rum cream, and Tia maria which is a coffee liqueur is also a popular gift item.

The Christmas parade and Christmas tree lighting is done all over the country. A Christmas tree is lit at the capitol of each parish. John Kuno which is a traditonal dance parade will pass through the towns. Coney Island which are temporary casinos which showcase go-go dancers are opened all over the Island. Jamaican dances and concerts are kept throughout the season all the way to the New Year.

The Christmas dinner is the highlight of the season. Individual families have their own dinners. Sorrel which is a red fruit which is turned into a drink and spiked with rum is a must have for any Christmas dinner. The most popular dishes are curried goat, fricassee chicken, escoveitch fish served with rice and peas and tomatoes for a salad. Some families have a Christmas breakfast instead of a Christmas dinner, green bananas and dumplings with ackee and cod fish, or kidney along with hard dough bread are served. Coffee, hot chocolate, or herb teas are also served.

Day after Christmas which is Boxing Day, there is lots of partying and hanging out and visiting friends and neighbors. Men hang out and play dominoes and tell jokes and listen to music. Lots of Jamaican men collect old records and they play records from their collection, or they might keep oldies parties.

The festivities for Christmas can be seen all over the Island, as people greet each other with the traditional, “Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.”