Christmas traditions in Jamaica?

(7 Posts)
Annetter Fri 29-Aug-14 18:37:49

DS is mixed, it will be the first Xmas that he will be aware of what's happening.

DH was born/raised here...has no idea, nor apparently does his mum of any traditions re Xmas in Jamaica. There's is wake up, open presents, and at some point eat in front of the soaps. But we want to get together some traditions that we can use for our family going forward that he'll remember and we wanted to pick something that reflects Jamaica in some way to include.

Anyone know any??

MrsWinnibago Fri 29-Aug-14 19:23:45

I'm sure you've Googled...I just did...the Christmases in Jamaica seem to be not unlike ours! Apart from the food...which seems to be pretty traditional Jamaican stuff.....maybe you could incorporate a Jamaican dish into your day?

chanie44 Fri 29-Aug-14 21:45:46

My dad and OHs dads are Jamaican, but are no longer with us, so we can't ask. Both OH and I grew up having the same xmasses as our friends, so I don't think there is anything specific that Jamaicans do.

I think a Jamaican Xmas dinner would have some differences. I remember mentioning to Uni friends that we had rice and peas for Xmas dinner (along with the traditional turkey ad trimmings) and my friends being surprised. It was perfectly normal to me.

What about having a Jamaican dinner for Xmas eve? You should be able to google recipes and if you live in a multi cultural area, you should be able to pick up the ingredients fairly easy. Many if the ingredients will be canned and dried, so they will keep between now and Christmas.

Rice and peas (rice cooked with coconut cream and kidney beans)

Ackee and sailfish (Ackee is a canned veg, a bit like scrambled eggs. You really have to work at getting the salt out of the saltfish).

Jerk chicken/pork/beef - easy peasy if you marinade the chicken in a shop bought sauce.

Rum cake.

Hard dough bread

Plantain (which looks like a banana and you fry in oil. You need them with the black spots, which make them look like they are off).

The Levi roots cookbook is good one and not too complicated.

I'm now thinking of doing a Jamaican Xmas eve dinner myself - I rarely cook it, so it will be a treat.

MrsWinnibago Sat 30-Aug-14 08:54:21

Rum cake sounds divine! grin

Annetter Sat 30-Aug-14 14:27:16

Yes iv overthunk this I think. I know how to cook them lolblush

Will include maybe breakfast will be Ackee and saltfish grin

chanie44 Sat 30-Aug-14 17:09:15

Sorry, didn't mean to reach granny to suck eggs, as my boss says to me.

The way you had posted made you sound like you hadn't cooked it before!!!!!

I'm now planning my rum cake....

Annetter Sat 30-Aug-14 17:29:55

It did rather, didn't it?! Lol

I have rum cake I'm trying not to eat (weight loss) enticing me currently leftover from DHs birthday

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