Christmas traditions

 We asked our Facebook friends to tell us about their favourite Christmas memories and traditions. Here is some of what they had to say:

I remember tree-lighting ceremonies in communities and singing lovely carols, decking homes in fresh coats of paint, dressing each family member in the finest clothing to go celebrate a King who was born in Bethlehem of Judea and grew up to save the world! I remember a more peaceful time when all that we needed was love and our families gave us all that.

- Shanni Budd

I remember getting ready for it. The pepper lights being checked, the house getting a cleaning then decorating it, buying a tree, painting the house. The sidewalks of the streets were bushed and whitewashed. The trees were also whitewashed. I would write my list of persons to get gifts then go to the penny bank at the post office to withdraw the money. This was money that I had to save from my weekly pocket money. With my list I would go shopping. You should see me stepping into Woolworth! That's the only store I could afford to purchase all that I wanted with the money I had. I remember the excitement on King Street, the vendors, gas balloons, Christmas hats and lights, fee fee, the candy lady, Christmas carols playing and the possibility of Junkanoo. I remember the Santa parade to Times Store, and he would toss candy and small toys to us on the sidewalk. That particular smell the house had, of Christmas cake, sorrel, roast beef and chicken, ham, tangerines, gungo rice and peas. I also recall writing my letter to Santa and giving daddy to post. The closer it got to Christmas, the better I behaved.

- Carol Dawn Anthony

I remember cleaning extra hard from top to bottom, painting, black cake, lots of good music, food, people dressing up in all their good clothes. There were lots of people in the yard, but most of all church on Christmas morning. We might not have had a lot like the kids in the US, but we had fun and loved each other.

- Jamaican Firecracker

I remember Christmas morning going down to King Street with my pops, seeing all the vendors selling toys on the sidewalk, trying to buy every toy possible. Then the Junkanoo parade would pass by scaring me, and then return home to some good food.

- Gerald Stephenson

I remember the Santa parade on King Street heading to Times Store where you get a chance to sit on Santa's lap to get your first Christmas present for the season.

- Catherine Rust-Wong

I remember the smell of the fresh, crisp air. The sound of the breeze through the trees, the overall tranquility and the taste of sorrel.

- Annette P Salmon

I remember when I used to put up a lot of Christmas decorations and this gave the house a beautiful look. Also, the lights! I love them! Lots of food and music and shopping. Most of all, I loved the freshness in the air which looked and smelled so different from the other times of the year.

- Sandra Murray

I remember whitewashing every stone in the yard, and the fence, and the house got a thorough cleaning. No item was left in its former place. My grandma used to say we were getting the house in order for Jesus' birth and we don't want to present a filthy house. Christmas breakfast was the best. Then you put on pretty clothes to walk around the town and 'buss clappers', and play crown and anchor, plus you used to get money to spend.

- Preston Matthews

I remember growing up celebrating a European concept of Christmas with Santa riding reindeer in mid air, dropping gifts in people's homes in one night with snow falling outside. Of course, this does not make sense, because Jamaica is a tropical island and Santa would not survive a minute in that suit on the island. I would love to see Santa visiting a ghetto at night in Jamaica, climbing on the residents' roofs and what they would do to him in the middle of the night.

- Milton Miller

I remember going to Half-Way Tree on Christmas Eve night with family and being in the crowd of the stores and enjoying it. I remember going to my mother's office party and eating roti and curry. Yum! I loved hearing the Christmas carols on RJR and singing along. Having class party at school and dressing up. Getting up early Christmas morning and going around the neighbourhood with my church and singing carols. I also remember returning to church and having Christmas morning service and exchanging gifts.

- Stacy Forbes

I remember my father taking us to Kingston to shop and my mother buying curtains from those vendors on the sidewalk and we also bought clothes and books at Woolworth. On Christmas Eve, we would go to Savanna-la-Mar and have fun all night on the various rides at the Coney Park where we also bought those helium balloons and other toys. Christmas day was always fun with all the curried goat with gungu peas and rice, sorrel and green salad and whatever else we liked. We weren't wealthy, but we were happy.

- Talla Sikkedd

I remember baking Christmas cake with my grandma.

- Christine Shim-Rodriguez

I remember grand market, merry-go-round, and the various meat kinds cooked for Christmas day. I was so short, I couldn't even reach the table, so I had to sit on a couple books. I loved the sorrel and Christmas cake. I also remember mixing the butter and sugar for my aunt to use to bake the cakes. I also remembered licking the spoon and the pan after she was finished with the ingredients. The good old days!

- Mel Storm

I remember going out and getting presents for my siblings and my mom baking lots of cake (the best!). Getting dressed in my brand-new-just-made dress and going out on the town (Man-deville) for grand market night. Best memories of my childhood.

- Catsy Hyl

I remember mama forcing me to rub butter and sugar! But she never had to force me to eat the cake! Nowhere in the world is Christmas as nice as it is in Jamaica. Anywhere I was, I was always wishing I was home. Now I am, and I am so happy to be here!

- Sheryl Williams

I remember waking early in the morning to the smell of ackee and saltfish with corn pork, choc-olate tea with the fresh nutmeg smell. Every-body was happy to see what was cooking. Just the excitement of seeing relatives you hadn't seen in years. It was great.

- Stephanie Bannick

I remember the togetherness in the parish, cooking, sharing, partying. Lucea and Negril shut down for celebrations, not so much materialism as in the states, just pure love and camaraderie!

- NubianSoul Mecca Dennard