Christmas Celebrations Throughout the Caribbean
Christmas symbolizes the birth of Christ, it is celebrated by Christians throughout the world. Christmas in the Caribbean means spiritual renewal, cultural celebrations, t ime with family and friends, time to enjoy some fine Caribbean cuisine and delights. As part of the Christmas celebration, the homes are decorated, houses are painted, furnitures are replaced and new curtains are put up.
The English speaking Caribbean have some similarities. The "Fruit Cake" or the "Rum Cake" or the "Black Cake" is a classic. In Trinidad and Tobago, Christmas time means: punch de crème which is like eggnog, sorrel and Ginger Beer, callaloo, peas and rice, turkey and ham, calypso and soca music.
In Jamaica, the Christmas season is the most festive time of the year: Christmas songs are played on the radio to the reggae beat. The Christmas meal consists of, rice and peas, sometimes turkey, ham, jerk chicken and ackee and salt fish, Fruit cake, sorrel, Ginger Beer. Jamaica is also known for its Christmas celebration called Jonkanoo (John Canoe). According to history, the masquerade parade is to honor the African heritage in Jamaica. For this event, the people are dressed in colorful costumes.
In Barbados, the main dish for Christmas is, jug-jug (Indian cornmeal, pigeon peas, salt meat mix together), Black Cake, Sorrel and Bajan rum. St Croix, St Kitts, combine Christmas and Carnival. In St Croix, the Carnival is lead by
Mocko Jumbis followed by music and floats. In St. Kitts, it is a week of party.
Often the food will include goose, lamb and beef.
In Antigua is the sailing capital of the West Indies. At Christmas time boats from all over
the world are seen at the English Harbour.
In Dominica the Black Cake (Fruit Cake) is everywhere.
Christmas traditions in the Caribbean are diverse. Islands such as: Grenada, Nevis, St Bart, St. Lucia, Tortola, The Bahamas, St Martin have their own unique way of celebrating the holiday. However, Christmas in the sun is always "Colorful".
For the French speaking Caribbean it is Christmas "à la Créole"
Martinique and Guadeloupe follow the French traditions, however an island touch is added. The Christmas tree is part of the decor, Père Noel is expected. The réveillon will take place after midnight mass and gifts are exchanged.
In Martinique is known to have some cultural events the week prior to Christmas such as "Festival de Cantiques de Noël," "Fête du Rhum" etc. The Christmas menu will include a roast pork, smoked ham, turkey, pork ragout wiht congo peas. The desert for sure will be "Bûche de Noël" a Christmas log.
In Guadeloupe, the atmosphere is festive from the end of November to Christmas Eve. The people gather around town to sing Christmas song to the rhythms of the biguine and the mazurka. After midnight mass, the people of the island will celebrate the birth of Christ. According to the tradition the Christmas meal is a family affair. The main course for the meal is pork stewed or sauteed, pigeon peas and yams. On Christmas day the Children enjoy the toys left by "Santa" in their shoes.
In Haiti, Christmas is celebrated with faith and fervor, Haitians hope for a better tomorrow! From the start of December, the air is filled with Christmas songs in French and Créole. Children will play with "Pluie d'étoile" (it is a metal stick, once lit, it turns into a fire work of bright stars). Craftsmen will design Christmas lanterns called "Fanal," and these lanterns will be seen all around town. On Christmas Eve "L'arbre de Noël" or Christmas tree is ready. Some people will try to create the nativity scene by having a "crêche" instead. For most Haitian, Midnight mass is a must. Some congregations will have an Open air mass. It is all about the joy of the moment. "
Le réveillon de Noël" is also part of the Haitian tradition, family and friends will get together on the 24th to celebrate. The gifts are placed under the tree after midnight. Adults do exchange gifts, but the focus is mainly on Children. The menu on Christmas day can be pretty elaborate for those who can afford it: turkey, ham, conch, shrimp créole, pâté, riz djon-djon (rice with mushroom), the classic rice and beans, fried plantain. With the meal comes wine, desert can be : Bûche de Noël, gâteau à l'ananas (pineapple upside down cake) or fruits. It is also part of the tradition to have home made liqueur, anis, coconut, mint etc.
For the Spanish speaking Islands: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico Christmas is family, joy and happiness.
In Cuba, the Christmas celebration was restored in 1998 after Pope John Paul II visited the island in January of that year. On December 24th Cubans will try to buy Pork, beer, apple cider, beans and fruits for the Christmas meal. In the past a roasted pig for Christmas was a must in Cuba. Many catholics will attend midnight mass. Cubans do exchange gifts among family and friends. It is a way to show love and affection among fellow Cubans.
In the Dominican Republic, the holiday spirit is felt in the Capital city, Santo Domingo in early November. The streets are decorated with lights, the people will clean up and paint their houses, new clothes are brought for the children. The people put time and effort in planning "La noche Buena" or Christmas Eve. Christmas is celebrated on December 24th, the family is together for the event. The tradition in D.R. is to exchange food with your neighbors on Christmas Eve. Among the foods that are shared, you have: pasteles, telera ( it is a bread baked at Christmas time only), russian salad, niño envuelto (stuff cabbage), roast pork, poultry (goose, pigeons, guinea-fawl). Desert will often be, bread pudding, followed by punche, which is similar to eggnog. In the country side a different form of Christmas Carollings take place, it is called "Aguinaldo" (Dominican Christmas songs with a caribbean flair). A group of people will go from house to house singing traditional Dominican folk songs relating to Christmas. The singers will have some instruments with them (at time the singers may improvise). The group is often invited to come into the house, often the members of the group are welcome with a drink. As the group gets to the end of its route, most of the town would have joined in and the event turns into a block party. Dominicans will also attend midnight mass and encens their homes. The gifts are presented to the children on January 6th, the day of the three kings.
In Puerto-Rico, the Christmas tree is part of the tradition, as well as Santa Claus, some of the customs practice in the United States are now part of the Christmas traditions in that island. However there are some aspects of the festivities that have been observed by Puerto Ricans for generations. ''La Navidad" for the native of Puerto-Rico means: léchon asado ( roast pork), pasteles, arroz con dulce (rice pudding), tembleque (coconut pudding), coquito (a drink like eggnog with coconut milk, coconut cream, condensed milk and rum). The festivities start at the beginning of December, however Christmas is celebrated on December 24th. Puerto Rico has its version of "Aguilnado" (Puerto Rican Christmas songs). A group of friends known as "Parenderos" will go around town with their instruments. The group will try to surprise other friends, the instruments are guitarras (guitars), tamboriles (small drum) and palitos (a pair of wooden stick use to provide percussion rhythm). For this event, members of the group will proudly wear the traditional "Puerto Rican Straw Hat". In Puerto Rico, January 6th. is observed.
The Caribbean is a mixture of British, French, Spanish, Dutch, African (to name a few), therefore Christmas traditions vary with each island. However, the focus is the birth of Christ and the holiday is celebrated with Great Joy!
Merry Christmas and Happy New year !
Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année !
Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo!
