What was Christmas like in Jamaica long ago? Read accounts of Christmases in Jamaica over the last two or three centuries. See what has changed and what hasn't. Experience the happiness, and sometimes the unhappiness, of those long ago days.
Visit Earthquake Kingston 1907
other sites:
WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES ROUND.
By Claude McKay. 1912
Tea-meetin' a goodly lot,
Picnic, dance, an' warra not,
Cure' white nyance an' plenty fat.
When Christmas come roun'.
Winds go tearin' overhead,
Whistlin' shriller dan Mas' Ned,
Mek you kibber tight in bed
When Christmas come roun'.
Breakin-up' ober de school, -
Fine fe dem who hate de rule!
Now dem head an' heel wi' cool,
For Christmas come roun'.
An' de leaf o' mancha trees
Fly reckless ober de peas,
Lak sen-seh fowl ina breeze,
When Christmas come roun’.
Drinkin' rum an' neber 'top
Jes' do'n a' de village shop.
Some get kick' an' some get chop, -
Hellish lot o' fun!
'Pon de mountain come do'n fog,
Caan' neider see tree nor crag,
Season rain mek de pass bog,
When Christmas come roun'.
Gamblin,' ef 'tis to you' tas'e,
A' de debil o' horse-race,
Billy's colt tekin' fus' place
'Pon de big race groun'.
Killin’ of old Beauty calf,
Hard-pay folks fe trus' i' off,
When dem nyam i’ den dem laugh,
An’ you needn't dun.
A wi' bet you eight half-crown
Country Christmas beat out town;
In dis pan we'll put i' down
Tell Christmas come roun'.
This advertisement - one of my favourites - was used by an up-to-date
Kingston merchant in 1911, the year in which the first aeroplane flight was made in Jamaica.
Please tell me what you think of the site!
This is a strictly non-profit, educational site. No copyright infringement is intended. If there are any questions or concerns, please contact Joy Lumsden at
For an academic discussion of Christmas in Jamaica refer to:
------
Jamaica in Slavery and Freedom: History, Heritage and Cultureedited by Kathleen E A Monteith and Glen Richards-----
Chapter 7, page 144Celebrating Christmas in Jamaica 1865-1920: From Creole Carnival to 'Civilized' Conventionby Brian L Moore and Michele A JohnsonChristmas in Jamaica
click on
arrows
for more
pages
click on down arrow
for more pages; up arrow
for previous pages
the worthy frog
joy lumsden 2006.
