Caribbean Christmas

9. A Caribbean Christmas

In the tropical islands of the Caribbean, the temperature is

above 75 degrees from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 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. During Christmas time in the

Caribbean, the temperature is also more temperate and tolerable

compared to the searing hot days of the summer months.

As in many parts of the world, family, merriment, gift-giving are

among the many activities that the people of the Caribbean enjoy during

Christmas. Families often live in fairly close proximity to each other

however. 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 many homes, 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 for 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 neighborhood, to stop for short

visits during the season.

During those visits, guests are entertained with certain food and

drinks, many of which are made only at Christmas time. These include

fermented drinks such as sorrel and mauby, as well as the alcoholic

drink rum punch. A special type of cake, called Black cake or

fruitcake, is also made at Christmas. It is made with raisins and other

dried fruit that are minced and placed in wine for several weeks.

This cake is the traditional dessert for Christmas dinner. The main

menu of a traditional Caribbean Christmas dinner includes baked

poultry, roast beef ham, boiled and steamed root vegetables, rice with

peas, seasoned rice or rice pilaf, with sorrel, rum punch or mauby as

the beverage.

Caroling has also been a tradition, although its practiced has

been declining in recent years. Small groups from churches or schools

will walk through neighborhoods singing Christmas carols or, will drive

from house to house to sing carols in neighborhoods primarily in rural

areas where houses are not always found in close proximity.

Two Christmas traditions that are unique to the Caribbean are the

practice of Jonkonoo and having a grand market. Jonkonoo consists of a

group of masked revelers who take part in a parade dancing to the beats

of drums, shaking tambourines and improvised instruments. The group

also include stilt walkers who appear as tall as some trees and single-

story buildings. 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.

Grand market is the big outdoor market that takes place the week

before Christmas up to Christmas Eve. Outdoor markets, found in the

central points of regional towns, 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, they also become filled with

assorted items that can be given as gifts and they bustle with activity

even after nightfall. It is a special treat for children to accompany

parents to grand market during the Christmas season.

Since Christmas falls during the high winter tourist season in

the Caribbean, Christmas is also an opportunity for many school

children to perform for tourists. Many hotels take advantage of the

fact that most schools and churches will have singing and dramatic

groups that perform the Christmas story and sing carols and Christmas

songs. These groups are often invited to provide local entertainment at

hotels and guesthouses during Christmas.