They are beginning to play Carols on the radio stations, pepper lights are beginning to twinkle here and there, and sorrel and gungo are now available on the curb sides. Yes ladies and gentlemen it’s nearing that time again, Christmas in Jamaica. In fact there is exactly thirty five (35) days left to Christmas day.
So are you prepared? I’m sure many of you said no. We do it every year, we go into denial until the last week then we catapult into action spinning like a ‘chicken without him head’. Of course by then all the bargains are gone and you end up spending much more. I can hear you, “Christmas is for kids”, “I’ll be skipping this year’s Christmas, check me again next year”, “I’ve converted to Jehovah Witness” and I know, “me naa no money’’. It won’t work people so snap out of it and get started. I tell you what, why don’t we take it one week at a time, and do it together. Here are some tips for this week.

Follow up:

First thing on the list are your fruits for the Christmas cake or pudding. For that real Jamaican flavour you have got to soak those raisins, prune etc in some red label wine and white rum. Don’t forget the spices, ‘lickle’ nutmeg, piece of orange peel and whatever else you like. These will help to bring out the flavour. And remember the longer the fruits soak the mellower your cake or pudding.
What about the Christmas ham, many persons take the easy way out and just buy a Grace Ham in the supermarket. Some of us like to make sure we are getting the right leg (don’t ask me why, so me born and come see my granny do, its tradition.) So we arrange with the butcher to get the right cuts of meat, then we either cure it ourselves or get it done. I get Mrs. Reid at Daken Farm, downtown Kingston to do mines for me. By the way for Uncle Leroy who doesn’t eat pork Mrs. Reid can cure anything, pig, fowl or beef she’s not partial. I’m sure each family has an ‘Uncle Leroy’ and if you check around you will have a ‘Mrs. Reid’ near you.
We can’t forget the Christmas decorations, time to get those out of storage to see what is broken and what still works. By the way this part of it is definitely for the children so depending on their ages get them involved. They will love it. And folks there is nothing wrong with decorations made by the children. It’s fun for them, something for you to do with them and it warms the heart to see them on the tree at Christmas. Not to mention it saves money.
Well that should get us started. It’s also never too early to start making that Christmas gift list. Yes, Christmas has become very commercialized but I also think it’s a nice time to say thanks to persons in our lives that help to keep us going. Not just loved ones but persons like the little lady who takes you that cup of coffee each day to get you started. Maybe one day in the season you can first her and make her coffee and even add a donut, it doesn’t have to be about money.
And while we are about it, let’s not forget the reason for the season.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus is all about love, the one thing that would appear to be in short supply these days. Let’s use this Christmas season to rekindle that feeling each of us in our own individual worlds.
Nuff love.