So who cares about a white Christmas when you can have Caribbean Christmas vacations, right?
Well, before you pack your bags for your holidays, we’ll give you a little information about how the islanders celebrate their Christmas holidays.
Traditional Christmas – The Caribbean Way
Don’t expect snow or freshly cut Christmas pine trees.
A Caribbean Christmas may be much like traditional Christmas in most Western countries, but it does have a very distinct Caribbean twist.
So what are unique Caribbean Christmas activities and events?
Community Activities For A Caribbean Christmas
Since many of the islands are largely Catholic, Christmas festivities revolve around the church’s activities.
The 24th is usually the busiest time. Families go shopping for last minute gifts during the day and then at early evening, everyone hurries to their own homes to make preparations for traditional Christmas dinners.
It is at this night that towns also get busy with community activities, when firecrackers mark the birth of Christ and church masses are held. The 25th is usually a very quiet day when people stay at home after all the previous night’s partying.
In some islands such as Carriacou, and Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean Christmasses are marked by singing the Parang.
Parang is a special kind of music sung during Christmas usually by a band, called the parenderos, with various traditional and non-traditional musical instruments. The parenderos, much like carol singers, go from one house to another, where they are warmly welcomed with food and drinks.
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In the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos island, people always look forward to the Junkanoo Carnival which is basically a colorful street parade on the 25th of December and the 1st of January when people in special costumes march the streets while dancing, singing, beating musical instruments and just having a good time.
In St. Vincent, Christmas celebrations are marked by the Nine Mornings Festival. Starting December 16, the towns people ,wearing special costumes, get up early every day to attend early morning mass.
These are just some of the unique Caribbean Christmas traditions which you can experience if you find yourself in any of these islands this Christmas.
If you’d rather not join the festivities though, there’s always the beach waiting for you…
