White-bearded Father Christmas accompanied by mummers, a tradition that goes back to the Roman Saturnalia but lapsed in Puritan times.
Compliments of the season!
This greeting rang all through the islands at Christmas time that ran from Christmas Eve to Three Kings Day (January 6th).
Preparations for Christmas began around Thanksgiving with blending and bottling of native berries and rum. Guavaberry is best when it’s carried forward from other years with additional rum and quavaberries added as needed. Cinnamon sticks, vanilla beans, prunes, and raisins were added. The thought being the longer you keep it, the better it tastes.
In old times, the Christmas table could feature a large fish rather than a ham or turkey. A 10 to 15 pound grouper would be stuffed with bread crumbs and baked after being rubbed and coated with pond salt and fresh pepper corns and spices.
Stuffed kid (young goat) was still considered to be a Christmas treat. Sweet bread was made and appears to have been readily exchanged even though almost all households made it. Secret ingredients abounded and liquors of all type were used. The good food and desserts fueled the serenading and singing that continued through the night on Christmas Eve. Caroling and home visits was the order of the day.
However, on St. Thomas they had the making of a stereophonic spectacular. A group of 40 to 50 carolers would stand on Frenchman’s Hill, another group would be on Denmark Hill and a third group stood on Blackbeard’s Hill and they would sing to each other. One group would sing and the next group would answer.
It would never work today with the gunfire.
Two things were totally different. Father Christmas, not Santa Claus, brought gifts to the children. Father Christmas didn’t wear red nor did he climb down chimneys. The legend of Father Christmas has existed since Roman times and continues to be represented in many countries.
The other major difference was that the traditional Christmas tree was replaced by a local tree well suited to the purpose. The inkberry tree has small dark green leaves, is shaped symmetrically like a conifer, and has thorns that are just the right size to hold small candles.
Music and merriment were certainly a part of the Christmas celebration.
On the first day of Christmas
My true love brought to me
A thrushee in a Calabash tree!
On the second day of Christmas
My true love brought to me
Two ground doves …
On the third day of Christmas
My true love brought to me
Three Bahama ducks …
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love brought to me
Four donkey foals …
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love brought to me
Five golden limes …
On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love brought to me
Six children scratching …
On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love brought to me
Seven snorkelers snorkeling …
On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love brought to me
Eight angelfishes …
On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love brought to me
Nine guavaberries …
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love brought to me
Ten tourists shopping …
On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love brought to me
Eleven lobsters boiling …
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love brought to me
Twelve calabashes …
AND A THRUSHEE IN A CALABASH TREE!