There are 18 days to go until it is Christmas Day, which means Jamaicans will be doing at least one of these 10 things in preparation for the holiday.
Christmas on the small island is a time to sit back, relax and enjoy the company of loved ones, partaking in some delicious cuisine.
But, there are certain things that must be done before the big day.
For example, Jamaicans are known to soak dried fruits in wine a month or two before December 25, which will later be combined with flour and spices to make Christmas cake.
If you are not sure how to prepare for the holiday season the Jamaican way, here are a few things you may want to add to your to-do list.
1. Paint the house
Old paint, stripping down the walls of a Jamaican house, is sure to be replaced with a fresh coating when the holiday season draws near.
As such, paint shops and local painters will be busy this holiday season, with customers scrambling to give their house a new look.
If the entire house isn’t painted on the outside, at least a bedroom or even the kitchen will be painted on the inside.
There is no room for sunburnt paint this holiday season!
2. Deep cleaning
Ah, yes! The activity that every child dreads when the holiday season approaches.
Jamaicans love to clean on any holiday, but the obsession with cleaning gets worse during the Christmas period.
Every nook and cranny has to be swept, polished, wiped and reorganised, leaving some Jamaicans cleaning for days.
Typically, this type of cleaning is done a day or two before the holiday, so that we can wake up to a freshly cleaned house on Christmas morning, only to dirty it up again during the Christmas festivities later in the day.
Though it is a tiring task that we sometimes hate, it is a task that cannot be skipped.
3. Buy Christmas presents
Though not everyone is able to do this, buying Christmas presents has become more popular within Jamaican households, especially buying them for younger children.
From as early as November or even before, some Jamaican like to buy gifts and then exchange them on Christmas day, an act that is practiced globally.
Whether you walk into a store, or shop online, you are sure to find some sale that will convince you to spend on your loved ones this holiday season.
Some physical stores also offer wrapping services, so that gifts can be bought and wrapped within minutes of purchasing.
4. Decorate the house with lights
Christmas lights or as Jamaicans call it ‘peppa lights’ are one of the most common giveaways that the holiday season is near.
Whether they are red, blue, yellow, green, or all of the above, you are sure to pass at least one house that is decorated with lights before or at the beginning of December.
Some business places have also decided to hop on the decorating spree, plastering their walls and trees with the twinkling lights and Christmas wreaths.
But, they won’t be on for too long. Though we are feeling merry, Jamaicans also have to consider the hefty light bill that the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) will deliver in January.
5. Airport pick-up
With the fifth largest diaspora, Jamaica has a lot of nationals who wish to return for the holiday season.
If you think the Christmas breeze we experience on the small island is too much, just imagine what the members of the diaspora experience when it snows in the winter.
As such, desperate for the island heat, they often return home to spend the holiday with family members and friends, who are happy to do the airport pick up.
This means that both major airports will be packed, not only with members of the diaspora, but tourists who are also seeking a tropical escape.
6. Buy new furniture
For whatever reason, Jamaicans tend to go a bit overboard for Christmas, wanting to create a new vibe for the new year that is approaching.
This means furniture and appliance stores will see an increase in customer who are trying to spruce up their house this holiday season.
If they cannot afford it, some Jamaicans will go as far as to create a payment plan with these stores to ensure they have that new stove, washer or dryer for Christmas.
But, never go too overboard and put yourself in debt, because Courts will be there to collect or take back the item, if you fail to make the payments on time.
7. Market run
Jamaicans’ most favourite part of Christmas is the diverse food selection they will have for dinner.
Throughout the entire year, we typically cook one protein for dinner. But the Christmas season is infamous for having several meat options.
This means a trip to the market downtown, or the closest market in your area is needed to ensure that you get good value for your money.
The holiday season is also the time when we see an increase in vendors, as they strive to meet the high demand from customers, some new and others returning.
Downtown Kingston is the most popular place where Jamaicans will gather, buying their scallion, thyme, onions, tomatoes and more to season their several food options.
8. Donate to charity
In addition to being the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas is the season of giving.
After deep cleaning their house, some Jamaicans might discover clothes, in good condition, that they no longer wish to wear, or are okay parting ways with. Instead of throwing them away, these clothes are sent to homes or charity organisations to help those in need.
If they have no clothes to give, some will visit a children’s home this time of the year, providing them with toys and basic essentials.
Whatever it may be, there is some act of kindness that is done to help out the less fortunate.
9. Shell gungo peas
Gungo peas are most commonly used during the Christmas season, in addition to regular rice and peas.
The tiny green peas come in pods that can hold up to 10 peas.
Days leading up to Christmas, the peas are bought at any local market. They are then taken out of their pods, or as Jamaican would say ‘shelled’ in preparation for Christmas dinner.
This activity can sometimes turn into a family affair, with different members of an household grabbing a handful of pea pods to shell.
But, they are always on guard, looking out for that one green worm that always manages to sneak into the bag of pea pods.
10. Go on a diet
As previously stated, Christmas dinner in Jamaica is like a food festival, with several different food options to choose from.
Though they try to control themselves, some people go overboard stacking their plates at dinner time, asking for a second plate and even taking some food home to eat later.
Some might also have multiple Christmas dinners to attend and will eat food at each household they visit.
To try and justify their eating habits during the holiday season, some Jamaican will go on a diet months before, then say Christmas is their cheat day.
But ultimately, they will extend their cheat day until January 1st, when they return to the gym to shed the holiday weight.
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