Guest Author - Magalie Noel

Jamaica is a mostly Christian nation, so it enjoys the celebrations of Christmas. Learn more about the traditions of Christmas in Jamaica.

Like many other cultures, a Christmas celebration is about love, family and friends, singing music and eating delicious food. With the enthusiasm Jamaicans have for music and reggae, it's no surprise that many Christmas classics have been redone with a reggae rhythm.

Fruit is always enjoyed in Jamaica, and Christmas is the perfect opportunity for fruitcake and fruit drinks. Other traditional meats such as roast fowl and ham are enjoyed here as elsewhere.

Jamaica enjoys the Santa Claus legend as well, although with the lack of snow on the island, he's usually portrayed as riding a donkey! Another custom is the Grand Market, where entire streets are blocked off and hundreds of happy shoppers look for gifts and presents.

One of the traditional drinks of this season is Sorrel.