Christmas traditions in the Caribbean may look very different to those who are used to a ‘white Christmas’. In the Caribbean, the sun shines bright, the climate is cool, and clear blue skies rule the day. Like many other parts of the world, the Christmas season is also referred to as the Holiday Season depending on where you are as well as your religious or cultural practices.
Today our Day Translations blog looks at some unique holiday and Christmas traditions in the Caribbean islands.
Different Christmas Traditions in the Caribbean
Jamaica
In Jamaica, there’s usually very high anticipation for the Christmas season. Jamaicans look forward to a cooler climate as well as the heightened buzz and excitement associated with the season. There are lots of traditional foods associated with Christmas in Jamaica such as:
Sorrel
This is a plant that usually blooms in time for the Christmas season. Jamaicans make their famous sorrel drink from this plant. It is usually picked and boiled in a large pot with ginger. It’s then strained and sweetened as desired. It is usually tradition to add the world famous J.Wray and Nephew run or Red Label Wine to add a little ‘personality’ to the drink.
Christmas/Fruit Cake
It is tradition to soak fruits all year long (in rum), to be used at Christmas time to make a special cake Jamaicans call Christmas cake or fruit cake. This finished cake is ‘black’ in color and is made with brown sugar, margarine, flour, and other spices that are combined and baked. It’s a sweet delight that is consumed by many as part of their Christmas celebrations.
Gungu peas
On a typical day in Jamaica, if you want to get lunch from a local cook shop or restaurant it is guaranteed that rice and peas are on the menu. The peas used are usually red peas/ kidney beans. At Christmas time, these red peas are replaced with gungu peas. This peas have a very grey-ash/ light brown look and have a distinct flavor and aroma that Jamaicans enjoy.
Christmas Eve in Jamaica is broadly referred to as ‘Grand Market’ and on this day and into the night people leave their homes to go shopping or catch up with friends. Typically people stay out all night and attend parties and take part in other festivities as they welcome Christmas Day.
On Christmas Day many Jamaicans attend church services in the morning and then return home to have a grand feast with friends and family.
Trinidad & Tobago
Similar to Jamaica, Christmas in Trinidad and Tobago is a very festive time filled with lots of shopping, food, and time spent with friends and family. A very unique Christmas tradition among Trinidadians is called ‘Parang’.
Parang is Christmas music sung in Spanish that is unique to Trinidad. ‘Paranging’ is usually done during Christmas time. Here informal singing groups go around serenading people in communities using horns, the steel drum, pots, pans and so many other types of instruments to make music.
Of course, there are festivities all around during Christmas time. There are parties and the exchanging of gifts.
The food cannot be left out. A traditional Trinidadian Christmas dinner consists of turkey, ham, pigeon peas and rice, and of course ‘black cake’ also known as Christmas cake made from fruits soaked in rum from weeks before. Trinidadians also consume homemade ginger beer and sorrel along with Carib beer during Christmas time.
Traditional Christmas decorations are also everywhere.
St. Lucia
The beautiful island of St Lucia celebrates Christmas with a bang. There’s lots of food to go around and not to mention rum. There are also quite a few traditional activities that Lucians look forward to such as:
Bamboo bursting
Bamboo bursting in St. Lucia is a Christmas tradition where locals make cannons out of larger bamboo canes. To ‘burst bamboo’, a hole is created in the bamboo cane and filled with fuel, it is then lit and the result is a loud sounding explosion.
Bamboo bursting is usually done in the evening time and these loud explosions can be heard all over the island. After the bursting, locals generally have a peaceful Christmas morning.
Festival of Lights
Every year the festival of lights celebrations begin in the first week of December. This festival is amor part of the St. Lucian culture and highlights traditions such as the lantern competitions where Lucians get the opportunity to create beautiful lanterns to be put on display and later lit in the evening. Additionally, the festival of lights also features an entertainment element in the form of a Christmas show and also a grand display of fireworks to top it off.
As is customary within so many other cultures, the practice of gift giving and spending time with friends and family is also part of a St. Lucian Christmas. Christmas morning here is just as special as it is elsewhere in the world.
Final Word
Christmas traditions in the Caribbean are cheerful. This is always a great time for friends and family. The climate is warm and inviting and so are the people. Now, you know a little more about the culture here! This means you’re armed with a nugget of wisdom that can help you bridge the language barrier!