A Caribbean Christmas

“Forget the cold, forget the snow but bring your honey and mistletoe. We got the sun and we got the sand and we got the time to make you plenty tan. The Christmas trees got the  coconuts for a Caribbean Christmas!” Kokomo Jo accurately describes a Caribbean Christmas in his song Caribbean Christmas, a McDowell family favorite!

Last year, my first Christmas as a Barbadian citizen, I was mostly an observer enjoying Christmas traditions and hearing about the old traditions handed down through the generations. To see my post from last year, click on the link-> Bajan Christmas Past . Now, with a full year under my belt as a Bajan resident,  I have decided to participate in as many Bajan Christmas traditions as I can.

I have not taken my daily walk for the past two weeks. Instead, everyday I have done some painting around the house. It’s amazing the amount of people I see painting and cleaning up their yards. Paint actually goes on sale this time of year, up to 40% off as stores compete for shoppers painting their houses inside and out. I have actually seen someone  painting under the light from street lamp in the evening. My next door neighbors are painting their house pressing to get it done by Christmas. My neighbor on the other side (the above side) lol, was out washing windows and said that’s all she’s doing this year to spruce up the house.

Even the garbage men are in on the cleanup. I have seen them at least twice a week over the past month or so picking up garbage as people clean and declutter their homes. They are coming around earlier in the evening not their normal time of around 1:00am to 3:00am making noise yelling and banging cans. Although they wake up half the neighborhood I guess it’s better for the men to work at night when it is cooler. Jean my neighbor said that they come around early this time of year because they are looking for their tips. She told me they are looking for money, wine or rum. Just a couple of days ago they shouted at Jean, “Hey Big Woman, Merry Christmas” while she was inside the house. They wanted to make sure she knew that they were there looking for something. Jean did not acknowledge them and told me later, “I ain got no money fah dem!  We weren’t at home so we did not get the Merry Christmas shakedown.

Ham is found on most tables for Christmas in Barbados similar to how  turkey is on the menu for the majority of dinners for Thanksgiving in the United States and Canada.

I decided in keeping with tradition to look for a Christmas ham. I was shocked to see my favorite, a Smithfield ham for $159 bajan dollars! Now, do you think I would pay $159 dollars for a ham that I can get for about $30 or $40  in the States? In a word, Yes! As I mentioned in keeping with tradition I bought the ham but, I think I am only going to put half of it out for dinner and put the other half in the freezer for the next celebration.

Our church put on a production of “What Child is This” last Saturday. The sanctuary  was set up with tables as a dinner theater.  The church was packed with about 150 for dinner and a show. I was part of the multimedia team that teleprompted the dialog of the play, controlled the sound and visual affects. For the first time ever, I had a speaking part in the play as Simeon. Just before my part I had to run down the steps when the preceding song started, I said my lines then ran back up stairs during the following scripture reading to be ready for the next actor. After the performance we had a delicious chicken, ham, and fish dinner with all the trimmings. It was an exhausting but fun evening!

Thursday, we went to see Handel’s Caribbean Messiah, it was amazing! Can you imagine listening to the Handel’s Messiah with a distinct African, Raggae, Socca, Latin, Jazz, New Orleans rhythm and beat? The audience of 500 anxiously waited with great anticipation for this first time production. We were not disappointed! The Hallelujah chorus was magnificent and the best rendition of the classic that I have ever heard!

Another tradition that I participated in was the children’s Christmas party at church.  It was a fun time as I played DJ spinning Christmas carols and twisted balloon animals for the afternoon. The kids played in the jump house, smashed the piñata and had a nice lunch of chicken, macaroni pie, fish cakes, a couple of  pizzas and mauby to drink. It was more like adult food than kids food that I am accustomed to seeing at children events in the US which is normally more like pizza or hotdogs, chips and soda.

Christmas dinner is going to be a bit unusual. We are cooking that expensive ham I told you about, lasagna, chicken, mashed potatoes, rice, broccoli, cabbage and kale. Who have we invited for dinner? Nobody! Sandra said we should cook and people will stop by. Wait, that would be like cooking a full spread for Thanksgiving and not invite anybody expecting people to stop by. The whole thing doesn’t make sense to me but we will see.

Another thing that doesn’t make sense is Boxing Day. If I was working I would appreciate an additional day off, but Boxing Day? Anyway, Christmas dinner and Boxing Day confusion aside, this has been an exciting Caribbean Christmas!

*”Come and see the pretty ladies dance around. You can have a reggae or calypso band with a big steel pan at a Caribbean Christmas. Forget the cold, forget the snow but bring your honey and mistletoe. We got the sun and we got the sand and we got the time to make you plenty tan. The Christmas trees got the  coconuts for a Caribbean Christmas. Merry Christmas! ” 

*The Christmas season officially ends on January 5th with “Last mas in the Square”. The 4th annual Christmas in the in the Square came to a close when all the lit trees in Independence Square burned for a final time. The festivities included a marching band and the Royal Barbados Police that played a number Christmas carols and holiday tunes.

*Traditionally, many Barbadians use January 5th as the last day for Christmas lights and displays.

* Lyrics Kokomo Jo from song Caribbean Christmas on Album Caribbean Christmas.