Christmas on The Rock is synonymous with sharing, caring and cocktails… little wonder a stylish contingent of players gathered at the Spanish Court hotel Wednesday last to share Tru-Juice sips and season’s greetings.

(photos: Karl McLarty)

Ce’ Cile – Entertainer

How do you plan to spend Christmas?

Well, if I had to plan it, I would like to be at home with my mum and siblings, but in reality I will be flying from St Lucia to Jamaica on Christmas day!

A favourite Christmas drink you can’t get enough of?

Of course that’s sorrel! Now you can get it all year round!

How do you share the festive spirit or get into the festive spirit?

I don’t have to try! As I said before the whole feel and vibe is there and I kinda just go along with the flow. I like having that kid-all-over-again feeling that Christmas gives me!

Warren McDonald – Berger Paints CEO

What do you look forward to most at Christmas?

Sharing good food, drink, fellowship and camaraderie with family and friends.

What Christmas drink can’t you get enough of?

All year round I drink red wine but at Christmas, my favourite drink at this special time of year is sorrell with ginger — refreshing when served chilled and loaded with anti-oxidants. This drink has moved further up the “drinks chain”.

How will you spend this Christmas?

I will be spending time with my extended family. This year is particularly interesting as my eldest daughter will be getting married a couple of days before Christmas.

How do you get into the festive spirit?

By attending and participating in Christmas festivities. Every year, for example, Berger Paints puts on a Christmas treat for about 200 children of the Riverton City Basic School. It’s also a time when Jamaicans “brush-up” and refresh their homes. It is therefore a time when companies in certain industries, like paint — look forward to an upsurge in business.

Jhordanne Mcdonald – daughter of Warren Mcdonald

What do you look forward to most about Christmas?

I look forward to Christmas because it is the time of year to see the people I love and I get to engage in lots of festivities and eat great food.

A favourite Christmas drink you can’t get enough of?

My favourite drink is Baileys but at Christmas I can’t drink enough sorrel, whether it’s homemade or from Tru-Juice!

What do you have planned for Christmas?

I plan to spend this Christmas with family and friends near and far.

How do you get into the festive spirit?

I get into the festive spirit by shopping for loved ones and friends.

Peter Mcconnell – Trade Winds Citrus, Managing Director

What do you look forward to most at Christmas?

I look forward to spending time with my family and friends. I definitely want to spend as much time with my kids, especially my two elder kids who are back home from school in the US and Canada. Everything this Christmas will revolve around them, including the parties they will want to go to and allow me to attend with them.

What Christmas drink can’t you get enough of?

Well, I’m very traditional with my drinks. I drink rum and vodka, but at Christmas time I can’t get enough sorrel. Sorrel with rum and sorrel with vodka are what I will be enjoying.

How do you share the festive spirit?

I enjoy giving to the less fortunate so that they can enjoy the Christmas spirit too.

I get into the festive season by surrounding myself with my family, loved ones and people who are fun to be around.

Dane Chin – The Quad, General Manager

What do you look forward to most at Christmas?

I really look forward to spending time with family and friends. My days are so hectic that I am thrilled to have a very quiet day.

Traditionally I spend Christmas day with my family, we always have a big family dinner.

What Christmas drink can’t you get enough of?

I don’t really have a favourite, I love them all, but this is the one time of year that I drink sorrel, sometimes I mix it up a bit with vodka.

How do you get into the festive spirit?

I try to donate clothes and food to the less fortunate. Preparing for Christmas, decorating the house, putting up the tree and buying Christmas ham for the big day when I get to share special time with the people closest to me.

John Azar – KingAlarm CEO

What do you look forward to most about Christmas?

Spending quality time with my wife, kids, extended family and closest friends, seeing the gleeful looks on my children’s faces on Christmas morning and, of course,… Santa Claus! (I wish I could also say a few days’ rest, but at KingAlarm our work never stops…).

A favourite Christmas cocktail that you can’t get enough of?

My wife Gabriela’s homemade Christmas punch (I have no clue what’s in it but it includes sorrel and it’s fantastic)… and there’s always Grey Goose and tonic which I can turn into a Christmas cocktail!

How do you plan to spend this Christmas?

Hopefully the same as every year… We start the day at church reminding us of the real reason for the season, a quick football game with the boys, then we open gifts together as a family, followed by the best Christmas lunch at my parents’ house courtesy of my amazing mother. That tradition has been going on ever since I can remember, and I hope it doesn’t change anytime soon!

How do share your festive spirit or get into the festive spirit?

Despite the challenges that we all face from time to time, Christmas has always been, by far, my favourite time of the year. It’s hard not to get into the festive spirit when you are fortunate enough to have, and be around great family and great friends. Once I am around my kids, I find it hard not to be festive at any time, and even more so at Christmas. I also get a bit of a double celebration as my birthday falls very close to Christmas day.

Kim Lee – Trade Winds Citrus, head of marketing

What do you look forward to most about Christmas?

The Christmas decorations. I love to see a beautifully decorated tree, garlands, and wreaths with pine cones, poinsettias and fruit. The twinkling of Christmas lights, ribbons and Christmas stockings remind me of my childhood in New York.

A favourite Christmas cocktail that you can’t get enough of?

My preferred spirit is Smirnoff vodka, so naturally mixing it with sorrel is ideal. I also adore egg nog with Baileys. Now that I have tasted Calico Jack, I will definitely add it to my repertoire.

How do you plan to spend this Christmas?

I’ll spend Christmas with my family. We are all coming together for a potluck Christmas dinner so the food will be yummy and stress-free. I am really excited because this is the first Christmas that my daughter Rhemy is really involved and she can actually exchange presents with her cousins.

How do share your festive spirit or get into the festive spirit?

I really don’t need much to get into the festive spirit, I think about gifts for my kids all year round. In fact, I start buying them as early as July. I know that I have much to be thankful for, but I can’t help but feel sadness for our children who don’t have, so I try to donate what I can to a children’s home.

Chris Dehring -LIME, chairman

What do you look forward to most at Christmas?

What I look forward to most about Christmas is the camaraderie. Seeing all my friends and family, meeting and greeting new friends…the drinking, liming, etc. I really look forward to the season as for me it represents the end of a year and time to relax and enjoy life.

A favourite Christmas cocktail you can’t get enough of?

A favourite Christmas cocktail is sorrel and white rum.. I’ll be indulging in quite a few this Christmas.

How do you plan to spend this Christmas?

I always start out with my family on Christmas day, my mummy, brothers and sisters and my son. Then the trek around to all my friends’ homes, which will last till midnight. Then I hit the parties… it’s all very taxing! But worth it!

How do you get into the festive spirit?

I prepare for Christmas by not drinking any alcohol or eating any meat for all of November. I’m preparing myself for the over-indulgence of the season to come. So from the month before I’m already getting into the festive spirit. Having deprived myself for all of November… I’m eager to get into the spirit by December… then, it’s off to the races!

Carolyn Yapp – Nylorac Boutique owner/Miss Jamaica Universe 2009

What do you look forward to most at Christmas?

I look forward to spending time in Montego Bay with my family and friends. I also look forward to the gifts!

What Christmas drink can’t you get enough of?

I really, really like eggnog during Christmas time.

How will you spend this Christmas?

This Christmas will be different for me. I’m originally from the second city, but my business is here in Kingston. I hope I’ll make it home for Christmas, if not, I’ll just have to crash a few of my friends’ family dinners.

How do you get into the festive spirit?

Well, my birthday is December 2, so Christmas celebrations start on that date! I like the small things; I love seeing Christmas decorations all over the place, love hearing the carols and last but not least, I love the excitement of shopping.