I thought it might be "timely" to jot down a few of my impressions of how the Christmas season in Jamaica differs from what we are used to in N. America....
It's true, everyone is looking for extra money as the holiday season approaches, but not so much for presents but more for a new set of clothes and/or shoes to "show off" at holiday time....also to buy nuff food stuffs & liquor for holiday partying....time to bake a black rum cake (similar to our fruitcake but blacker & soaked with rum & wine)....
Time to make "sorrell"....got mine made already! If anyone is not familiar with it, it is a holiday drink, made from a flower that is in the hibiscus "family" & tastes something like Red Zinger tea. The fresh "flowers" are brought to a boil in water & then steeped overnight, along with nuff grated ginger. Next day, pour out through a strainer, sweeten & add Ja. Red Label wine & overproof, if wanted....can also drink with no alcohol too!
Nuff folks do a "Christmas cleaning" of their house & yard, just like we do "spring cleaning"! Time to get any painting & fixing done.....time to paint the bottom of the tree trunks white (never did this & always wondered if there was actually a purpose for it)....if anyone knows, let ME know.
Plenty parties start when Dec. arrives & intensify for Christmas & New Years weeks....Jamaica really becomes "party central" during the holidays. The first holiday I spent with my hubby, I almost didn't make it through those two weeks because it was just CONSTANT party EVERY night!....gettin too old fi dat!
You will find folks coming around to ask if you have extra work for them to earn a likkle extra "change" for their holiday purchases.....or maybe using Christmas as an excuse to beg a money....hopefully not too much teifin a gwan!
For those who eat pork & can afford a ham, I'm sure one will be purchased for holiday dinners....otherwise, nuff chicken, goat& fish will be cookin along with rice & peas, baked macaroni & cheese, potato salad and of course mannish wata (not in my house though!!)
Christmas breeze a blow & nuff Yardies will don their "hoodies" & winter garb, (time to "pad up" as Barry would say) while all the farriners will be breathing a sigh of relief & pleasure while enjoying the "slightly" cooler temps & lovely balmy breezes!
It is truly a pleasure not to get bombarded by constant TV commercials about Christmas sales or to feel pressured to venture out in cold & nasty weather to brave the crowds to get all that gift shopping done....I for one, do not miss the weather or the shopping crowds!! Have a wonderful holiday season ALL!!!