Jamaican touches made holidays special
Every December, when the box of ornaments and the artificial tree came out, so did a small stack of CDs to set the festive mood. And my favourite was always the disc with a faded yellow cover entitled, “A Reggae Christmas.”
We would spend hours, swaying and two-stepping to Jamaican renditions of Christmas carols while hanging shimmering tinsel, lights and decorations around the tree.
I grabbed the disc recently and managed to play it on my laptop — no longer easy now that this generation has rendered CD and USB drives obsolete, but I managed.
The album, originally recorded in 1984 by Ras Records, opens with — in my opinion — the only acceptable version of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” vocals behind the beat, tropical vibes and silly riffs.
Halfway through there’s a version of “Drummer Boy” that is almost twice as fast as the original and with lyrics that sound more like a DJ riling up a dance hall party. Then there’s a melodic, if vocally flat, “Silent Night” with an electric keyboard infusing the track with reggae tones.
The short, vibrant, staccato notes gave every song a brightness that brought eight-yearold me more glee than the typical slow-paced traditional Christmas songs.
My parents weren’t the type to play music outside of the car radio, but later in life, it’s become a passion of mine and so many memories I have are tied to songs, shared playlists and concerts.
So naturally, I loved humming along while we spaced gold balls evenly on the tree and pretended we were in Jamaica — since we only ever went in the summertime, and had to deal with the cold here in Canada every winter.
Growing up, my favourite parts of holidays were the little Jamaican touches that made the season feel unique and noticeably brought memories and joy for my parents.
I’d follow my mom to pick up a batch of sorrel, a hibiscus alcoholic drink, from Grandma Pearl — a woman who used to babysit me — for the adults to have with dinner.
Plates of turkey, stuffing, glazed ham, alongside rice and peas, pot roast and oxtail. We’d have Christmas cake made with dried fruits that had been soaked in rum and wine for weeks.
The island touches made every holiday special and even more memorable than presents. In my memory now, it barely registers which presents I was most excited about or which years had many or few.
My first few Christmases in Canada, we didn’t have a tree. It took some time for my parents, who emigrated from Jamaica just before I was born, to get one to shelter the collection of gifts for my brother and me, which grew bigger each year.
As an adult looking back, it is the sentimental moments that stick with me more than the new toys and books.
But if you asked me at the time, my favourite tradition was my brother and me opening a single present early on Christmas Eve.
Everything added to the magic of the season: the music, the food and the gifts.
This holiday season, the Star is asking readers to help spread that magic, through the annual Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund. Our goal is to send gift boxes for 50,000 children under the age of 12 across the Greater Toronto Area and we need to raise $1.5 million to get it done.
Have a happy holiday season and give generously!
IF YOU HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY THE SANTA CLAUS FUND OR HAVE A STORY TO TELL, EMAIL SANTACLAUSFUND@THESTAR.CA OR PHONE 416-869-4847.