Caribbean Christmas Articles | Christmas

By: Liam

In the tropical islands of the Caribbean, the climate can range from Aruba's dry to Dominica's misty weather pattern. The temperature wherever you go will be between 75 and 85 degrees F in December, which means that it is warm and pleasant during Christmas.

The Christmas season in the Caribbean is also pleasant because it is far removed from the rainy season, which usually occurs from late March to May. If a thunderstorm occurs in December, it will likely occur around 12:00 AM (midnight).

 As in many parts of the world, family, merriment, and gift-giving are among the activities that Caribbean people enjoy during Christmas. Families often live in fairly close proximity to each other. But what makes getting together at Christmas so special is that it often involves intense and laborious preparations that are not done at any other time of the year.

 In some communities, an intense cleaning is done in the two or three weeks before Christmas Day. All furniture is moved and may even be rearranged and new and fancy curtains put up to welcome the season. The best bed linens, tablecloths, cutlery and dinnerware are also used in entertaining any visitors during the season. It is a common occurrence for visitors, including people from the neighbourhood, to stop for short visits.

 During those visits, guests are entertained with food and drinks, some of which are made only at Christmas time. These include drinks such as sorrel and mauby, as well as  rum punch. Sorrel is a sweetened, red-coloured drink spiced with ginger, cloves, pimento and white rum. Mauby is a popular drink made from the bark of an evergreen tree common to the islands. It is often bought as a pre-made concentrate and then mixed with water (sparkling or still) to the consumer's taste, but many prefer traditional home-made. Its taste is initially sweet, somewhat like root beer, but changes to a prolonged bitter aftertaste.

 A special type of cake, called Black cake or fruitcake, is also made at Christmas in the islands which were formerly British. It is made with raisins and other dried fruit that are minced and soaked in dark rum and a sweet wine for several weeks. This cake is the traditional dessert for Christmas dinner. Although the meal varies depending on the islands heritage  a traditional Caribbean Christmas dinner may include  roast pork or ham, boiled and steamed root vegetables, potato salad, rice with pigeon peas in coconut milk, seasoned rice or rice pilaf, with sorrel, rum punch or mauby as the beverage.

Carolling has also been a tradition, although its practiced has been declining in recent years. Parang music is still an important part of Christmas in Trinidad. It comprises Spanish lyrics, Venezuelan music and Trinidadian rhythm. Small groups from churches or schools will walk through neighbourhoods singing Christmas carols or, will drive from house to house to sing carols in neighbourhoods primarily in rural areas where houses are not always found in close proximity.

 Christmas celebrations in the islands of the Caribbean are significantly different depending on the history of these nations. December 24^th tends to be a huge celebration going well into Christmas morning. A couple of the main Christmas activities are especially noteworthy; Jonkonoo (or Junkanoo) and the grand markets.

 Jonkonoo consists of a street parade with music and is held in Jamaica and the Bahamas, where it is a major Christmas festival. It is also held in Belize, where it is known as John Canoe. The dancers have very elaborate costumes and dance to the beats of drums, shaking tambourines and various instruments.  Jonkonoos perform various antics to amuse onlookers and to give candies and treats to children, especially younger children who may seem scared of any of the Jonkonoo participants.            

 In Jamaica the grand market is the big outdoor market that takes place the week before Christmas up to Christmas Eve. Outdoor markets are common in the Caribbean as a place to get fresh fruits, vegetables and produce that are grown by local farmers. But at Christmas time in Jamaica, they also became filled with assorted items that can be given as gifts and they bustled with activity even after nightfall. The current Christmas markets have unfortunately lost some of their lustre although they are still held.