Christmas is a special time of celebration throughout the Caribbean.

Houses are cleaned on the inside and outside; Christmas decorations and lights are put on display, and seasonal music blares out from almost every radio station and in every shopping mall.

Although each island recognises the festivities in its own unique way, Yello has discovered that there are some similarities that make a truly traditional Caribbean Christmas.

Cleaning the house

Almost every household in the Caribbean sees the Christmas holiday season as the ideal time to do some thorough cleaning.

Windows and doors are washed, curtains and nets are taken down and replaced, rugs and carpets are cleaned, and the entire house is swept, vacuumed, and mopped from top to bottom. All the best cutlery and dinnerware is also brought out of the cupboard for Christmas lunch.

Going to church

Church life is still vibrant in many parts of the Caribbean, and as a major celebration in the Christian calendar, Christmas is the season when you’ll probably find many people going to church even more often than usual.

One of the services most look forward to is Midnight Mass which features carols and candles. It starts on Christmas Eve night and ends in the early hours of Christmas morning. Early morning mass on Christmas Day is also popular.

Cooking and eating festive food

Caribbean people love their food and drink at the best of times, but at Christmas, this affection reaches new heights as generational recipes are revived, and special just-for-December treats are devoured.

Some of the food and drink you can expect during a traditional Caribbean Christmas lunch include ham, turkey, stuffing, great / black cake, sorrel, spiced rum punch, and ponche de crème or eggnog.

Visiting family and friends

Christmas is about family and friends, and at this time Caribbean people make a special effort to visit people they may not have been able to see all year. Most Christmas visiting takes place on Boxing Day, when people feel inclined to go around to a relative or friend’s house and help them finish off any leftovers.

Picnicking on the beach

Beach picnics are a common occurrence in the Caribbean after the Christmas rush is finished, and people can make the most of some time away from work and school until the New Year.

In the week after Christmas, lots of Caribbean families will organise a picnic excursion with a beach BBQ and accompanying music, where the children can run around, and the adults can sit back, laugh and talk, and watch the sea.

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These are just some of the elements that make up a traditional Caribbean Christmas. Yello hopes you enjoy the holiday season.