Looking at Christmas traditions nowadays, it is more difficult to distinguish between those that are from the rural areas of Jamaica versus those that are more urban in origin. However, if we should take a look back, we could see distinct characteristics that make a rural Jamaican Christmas special.

Observer Online has compiled eight traditions that were prevalent in the rural areas of Jamaica:

Fatten fowl for Christmas dinner — It was common for homes that raised roosters and hens — what Jamaicans call “common fowl” — in their backyards to select one that will be set aside for Christmas dinner. Usually by November this chicken is picked out and drenched (what we call washout) with vinegar. It is then placed in a coup where it is specially fed and is not allowed to walk around outside with the other fowls. Come December 24, the now fattened fowl is killed, cleaned and washed with vinegar, before it is seasoned with scallion, thyme, leaks, and black pepper, and covered in a big pan to be cooked and served on Christmas Day.

Roast beef and pork from December 24— Preparations for Christmas dinner began on Christmas Eve for most families living in rural Jamaica. This was especially so for households that did not own a refrigerator or had electricity. They would roast pork and beef on Grand Market day, which would be placed in a container to drain and cool. Before dinner time on Christmas Day the meat would be sliced and put into a pan to be reheated. The gravy to accompany the meal would be made and the meat served with rice and peas and other sides.

Christmas dinner cooked early— Again, due to the lack of a refrigerator —and electricity in some parts— Christmas dinner was cooked and served quite early. This is compared to now when dinner is served sometimes in the late evening. To ensure that meat set aside from the day before did not go bad, dinner would start cooking shortly after breakfast and served by 12 noon or 1pm.

Neighbours exchange Christmas dinner— Sharing Christmas dinner with neighbours was an expectation in rural Jamaica— it still is in some parts. But what was special is that neighbours would also do exchanges of meat. The family that cooked their fattened fowl would share with a neighbour who roasted pork or beef, and the recipient of the chicken would in turn share their roasted meat with the neighbour who cooked chicken. This way the families would have more than one meat option on their Christmas dinner table.

Make an oven out of “kerosene pan”— For many, Christmas was not complete without the moist, scrumptious Christmas cake, but without an oven they had to get creative by using what was referred to as a “kerosene pan” to create a makeshift oven in which to bake. It is still unknown why this metal container was referred to as a kerosene pan when it actually would contain cooking oil. When the container is empty, one side of it would be cut off, and a mesh wire placed inside of it. Coal would be placed below the wire as the heat source, but not too high to burn the cake, and the mixed cake batter would be poured into whatever tins were available and placed in the makeshift oven to bake. However only those with some money had this luxury, as poorer families could not afford the ingredients that went into making the Christmas cake.

Fadil McLaughlin’s Christmas Cake (Photos: Aceion Cunningham)

Sing carols Christmas morning— On Christmas morning in some rural communities back in the day, it was not customary to attend church. Instead the community members would gather in the early mornings at the square, and using bottle torches as their source of light walk around to other neighbours and shut-ins and sing Christmas carols to bring some good will, cheer and joy to those who could not leave their homes to experience it. It was good fun for all involved, especially the children.

Members of the National Chorale of Jamaica.

After caroling breakfast— Breakfast after the early morning caroling on Christmas Day was also a hit in some of these rural parts. The menu items would include chocolate tea made from the cacao fruit served with a piece of crown bread or fritters or fried dumplings and steamed callaloo. These would be shared among the carolers but also the elderly neighbours, and those who lived by themselves.

(Photo: eatthismuch.com)

Children sent to clean the homes of those who lived alone— Deep cleaning your house at Christmas is a tradition, but for those who were elderly and lived alone in these rural communities they were treated to having their homes cleaned. This cleaning was done by children who were sent by their parents to give a helping hand to a neighbour in need. On a regular basis the children would be sent out on errands to the shop by these lonely elderly people so having them clean their houses during the holiday season was not too far-fetched. Cleaning the houses also included the yards, and often multiple houses are cleaned in one day by the children. Afterwards, the day ends with the children taking a trip to the river to bathe, and then gathering to play games and have a good time.