Jamaicans rush home for ‘real’ Christmas

The arrival hall at the Norman Manley International Airport was buzzing like grand market as Jamaicans poured in by the planeload, some admitting that Christmas for them can only truly be celebrated on the island.

Families huddled as they waited to be picked up, couples locked hands as they moved through the space, and travel agents shepherded eager clients for a fun time in Jamaica. Among the sea of happy faces was solo traveller Tersa McDonald, who arrived from New York just after 1 p.m., determined that this Christmas would be spent on Jamaican soil, no matter what.

"I live in New Jersey for about six years and I come home twice every year, but I have not spent Christmas here in six years so mi did haffi make it a priority this Christmas," she said. She explained that while the holiday season is celebrated abroad, the warmth just isn't the same.

"Christmas in Jamaica is very different from being abroad. In the States, there is the celebration of the season and you could be inside with family but the feeling is different. People have to be inside because it is so cold and everything is just predictable," she said. For McDonald, Jamaica's freedom, sunshine and spontaneous joy are unmatched.

"Jamaica nice, you can be outside and find so many things to do with family and friends. I know Hurricane Melissa had an impact but I booked my ticket even before and I wasn't going to change it. Hurricane or not, I would be coming to Jamaica, this is my home," she said. She added that despite being surrounded by people overseas, life there can still feel lonely.

"It feels like you're in a world by yourself even with so many people. It's just from home to work and nobody nuh pay you nuh mind. Here in Jamaica it's more fun, the culture, the Christmas preparations," said McDonald.

Also fresh off a flight and soaking up the season was Lorna, a Clarendon native who still treats Christmas in Jamaica as sacred.

"Mi live a foreign fi over 22 years and mi mek sure me come home a Christmas time. Mi come inna October already but mi did haffi come back," she said.

Praising her own cooking, Lorna said that Christmas at home means pots on the fire and plenty mouths to feed.

"Every time mi come mi cook because everybody always a look fi get my hand, dem love my cooking. All the food weh you can think bout a Christmas time mi ago cook," she said. As an "old time" higgler, she said that sourcing ingredients at the appointed time won't be a problem.

"Mi love Jamaica especially during Christmas time. The people have a vibe and mi come out come sell because mi have a store. Mi tell mi pickney dem say if mi dead a foreign a Jamaica mi haffi bury," she said.

T.P.