9. A Caribbean Christmas
In the tropical islands of the Caribbean, the temperature is above 75 degrees from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, which means that it's warm and pleasant throughout Christmas. The Christmas season in the Caribbean is also pleasant due to the fact it is far removed from the rainy season, which generally occurs from late March to May. Throughout Christmas time inside the Caribbean, the temperature is also a lot more temperate and tolerable compared to the searing hot days of the summer months.
As in a large number of parts of the world, family, merriment, gift-giving are among the lots of activities that the persons of the Caribbean enjoy during Christmas. Families sometimes live in fairly close proximity to each other even so. But what makes acquiring together at Christmas so unique is that it regularly involves intense and laborious preparations which not performed at any other time of the year.
In quite a few homes, an intense cleaning is done in the two or 3 weeks just before Christmas Day. All furniture is moved and may well even be rearranged and new and fancy curtains put up for the season. The very best bed linens, tablecloths, cutlery and dinnerware are also utilized in entertaining any visitors throughout the season. It's a typical occurrence for visitors, such as individuals from the neighborhood, to stop for short visits during the season.
During those visits, guests are entertained with specific food and drinks, several of which are made only at Christmas time. These consist of fermented drinks for instance sorrel and mauby, as well as the alcoholic drink rum punch. A special type of cake, referred to as Black cake or fruitcake, is also made at Christmas. It is made with raisins and other dried fruit that are minced and placed in wine for several weeks. This cake is the traditional dessert for Christmas dinner. The primary menu of a conventional Caribbean Christmas dinner consists of baked poultry, roast beef ham, boiled and steamed root vegetables, rice with peas, seasoned rice or rice pilaf, with sorrel, rum punch or mauby as the beverage. Caroling has also been a tradition, although its practiced has been declining in recent years. Modest groups from churches or schools will walk via neighborhoods singing Christmas carols or, will drive from house to home to sing carols in neighborhoods primarily in rural areas where houses aren't usually found in close proximity.
Two Christmas traditions that are unique to the Caribbean are the practice of Jonkonoo and having a grand market. Jonkonoo consists of a group of masked revelers who take component in a parade dancing to the beats of drums, shaking tambourines and improvised instruments. The group also consist of stilt walkers who appear as tall as some trees and single-
story buildings. Jonkonoos perform various antics to amuse onlookers and to give candies and treats to children, specially younger children who may well appear scared of any of the Jonkonoo participants.
Grand market is the large outdoor market that takes place the week before Christmas up to Christmas Eve. Outdoor markets, found within the central points of regional towns, are typical in the Caribbean as a place to get fresh fruits, vegetables and produce which grown by local farmers. But at Christmas time, they also turn out filled with assorted items that can be given as gifts and they bustle with activity even after nightfall. It's a special treat for kids to accompany parents to grand market throughout the Christmas season.
Since Christmas falls during the high winter tourist season in the Caribbean, Christmas is also an opportunity for a large number of school kids to perform for tourists. A number hotels take benefit of the truth that most schools and churches will have singing and dramatic groups that perform the Christmas story and sing carols and Christmas songs. These groups are frequently invited to provide local entertainment at hotels and guesthouses throughout Christmas.
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