December 25 is celebrated by Christians across the globe; however, Jamaicans have developed their ways of delivering the joys of Christmas in a way only Jamaicans can.
The season of Christmas also holds a special place in the hearts of Jamaicans in the diaspora. As Christmas rolls around, it was great to hear individuals speak specifically about what they miss about Christmas while growing up in Jamaica. It’s incredible how the Christmas experiences of the various participants differ.
The Christmas season is, at times, a personal experience, other times an expression of love with family and friends, but, importantly, a collaborative community occasion.
Donovan G. Jones, who hails from Oracabessa, St Mary, and now lives in London, misses the friendly spirit of authentic Christmas wishes and chats about their favorite foods. He enjoyed the road cleaning teams laughing, joking, and the camaraderie among community young people. He recalls the quiet of the town after it closed down on December 24 at 4:00 p.m. in preparation for Grand Market and Coney Island. Mr. Jones also remembers all the boys spending hours looking at the only Christmas trees in town and the beating of the MOSCORATE (junkanoo) drums in crescendo as the dancers got closer to the small gathering of people waiting for a little more Christmas excitement. On Christmas day, the 25th, his mouth drips at the smell of curry goat, roast chicken, or roast beef, not at his house but from neighbors. Donovan says Jamaica was just magical at Christmas.
Verona Hall has lived in Los Angeles, California, for 20 years but was born and grew up in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Verona misses the pleasant change in the physical environment as the ‘Christmas Breeze ‘ starts to blow, and the red poinsettia and poinciana rise in red-coated beauty. She also recalls the Christ-centered plays, the concerts, and the pantomime, the smell of the Christmas cakes baking, and she especially missed the many Christmas parties.
Dr. Sylvanus Thompson grew up in Victoria District, just a few steps from Thompson Town, in North Western Clarendon. However, he spent most of his adult life living and working in Montego Bay. As a child, he looked forward to preparing for Christmas, trimming edges, and white-washing the stones and fences around the home. Grand Market shopping was unique to him, but he was more excited about waking up early on Christmas Day to open gifts from Santa. He recalls going to the church pageants, which were treasured highlights during the Christmas season. Dr. Thompson, however, misses more than anything else the warm interaction with family and friends on Christmas Day and the community celebrations on Boxing Day with reggae music blasting from the sound systems and traditional Jamaican food.
Karen Fray Row grew up in St. Mary. Her response was different. “Gee Whiz, it’s Christmas!! Oh, how I miss the Grand Markets, the family getting together, especially when you have a visiting family member from a foreign in the midst. Christmas Carols are playing over the airwaves and even the caroling by some church members as they walk around the communities early Christmas morning. Oh man, the food and all the prep leading up to when we would finally sit down at a well-set table to partake of this sumptuous meal. To top it off, freshly brewed sorrel and real Jamaican Christmas cake rubbed up in the yabba. My mom is now deceased, and Christmas in Jamaica will never be the same without her in the mix, giving “laugh fi peas soup,” as the old idiom goes.
Awww boy, sigh….”
Evadney Hyatt resides in Orlando, Florida but also hails from Islington, St Mary. Evadney said: “The things I miss most about Christmas in Jamaica are many. However, the memories closest to my heart are Christmas Market at Friendship Square, started by the Maroons, who settled in the area after leaving Moore Town. The excitement for me was the display and sale of ground provisions.
Attorney Ray Connell currently lives in Seattle, Washington. He was born in Kingston but grew up in Morant Bay. Ray said, “What I miss about Christmas in Jamaica are the many office parties from December 1 ‘til January 1 each year. I missed the Boxing Day dinners my mother was famous for putting on. We used to get a ham that I have not come across here. We used to walk around downtown Kingston on Christmas Eve with my friends. Finally, I miss the sunlight and the warm weather in Jamaica.”
While the customs of each parish may differ one aspect of Jamaican Christmas that continues to hold strong is that shared love for Jamaican Christmas recipes. Whether it is ham, fish, sorrel, gungo peas and rice, curried goat, or fruit cake every Jamaican household will have a special dinner for Christmas.
The days of the “ole-time” Christmas have passed. Many customs no longer exist, but we hold them close to our hearts to reminisce and reflect. New rituals are created that are unlike the ones of the old. Don’t push back on them. Forty years from now, they will be the ancient rituals referred to.
