The Year We Were Forced To Stay Home

The happy month

It was a beautiful sunny day. School had closed early to accommodate the start of the Christmas holidays. Usually it was two weeks for the festive season so everyone looked forward to this grand and exciting time.
It was the time when your boss would give you something extra, the time when you would eat and drink without a care if the pounds would be packed on. It was a time when family and friends would come together and just celebrate life without the arguments . It was a joyous time. This year was no different.
It was now 4 days before the start of the largest all night shopping event known as the Grand market.

Jamaicans from all over looked forward to this event. All markets were opened from as early as 5 in the morning until the next day that was Christmas morning. Buyers would come out at all hours of the night to purchase foods clothing or whatever items they desired at all hours of the night.
Children and teenagers would be dressed in their best to come out and purchase toys and meet with their friends for an all night social. Sound producers were everywhere. If you did not like that particular song one was playing at the moment you could just hop from one area to the next.
They were that many. The noise was deafening and the crowd was worst.
If you came with friends the only way to not loose each other was to press yourselves on their backs until you were at your destination. It was worst than a riot. Still who cares? It was our way of enjoying the season . It was our tradition and we embraced it.

On the other side of the world there was a small ongoing scare. No one knew what it was. It came like a thief in the night 'seeking whom it may devour'. It was a dark secret that people were trying to cover up.It was a hidden wolf waiting to pounce. It took some victims but its thirst was great. No one knew how big of an appetite it had . Noone.

This was not our concern, after all it was hush and it was not our business. On top of that ,we were millions of miles from this place let them deal with it.
Soon it would be Christmas day . We didn't have all our family here to celebrate with us this year because they were all home in New York but we still was looking forward to  a great time. After all we were all going to meet in Jamaica in February for my parents anniversary, my mother's birthday and the grand opening of my parents new house. It was going to be a blast.
We had invited guests from all over so we were looking forward to having a grand time meeting up with old friends and families and even making new friends too. It was going to be an exciting all white affair and we were all anxious for the day to arrive.

In the meantime we would just enjoy Christmas .After all who doesn't like gifts? Whether it be birthday, anniversaries ,weddings whatever gift giving was awesome.

Grandmarket came and the streets were filled to capacity. People were dressed in all kinds of fashion. Everyone was out and about trying to go to the liveliest spot. The weather was not very dry during the daytime,there were small downpours that went on until night. This did not deter the people ,nothing was going to stop their shopping or their social fun. Little kids dressed in their finest casual wears were out in their numbers with their parents. They were looking forward to getting their toys with the colourful,blinging lights,the headpieces,the dolls,the swords,the remote vehicles, you name them.
Hundreds of vendors lined the streets hoping for a purchase of these flashy toys and children we're excited to choose the ones they loved . If it was only one day for the year that they got toys you could be assured that this day was Christmas Eve.
The teenagers were not to be overlooked. They met up with their classmates and friends and could be seen huddled ,standing or sitting together in small groups. Others were rocking to whatever beat they could hear over the loud,chaos in the streets.
There was no fun if there was no 'clappers'. In Jamaica firecrackers are called 'clappers'. The loud ,boiterous annoying, deafening sound like gunshots has somehow found its way into our culture. There was no Christmas without 'clappers'. Teenagers didn't mind getting their fingers burned they would just light them anywhere. It was part of the thrill.
Since the last two years a comedian act had set up their spot near the gas station. Not sure if he was hired or he was just doing his thing but he drew hundreds of crowds  to the area. His act was dressing himself in a grand mother's apparel with a large bottom and spiked heels. He went by the alias 'granny'. He was hilarious. He kept the crowd growing with his witty and wild jokes. It became a  free comedy show and dance party. It quickly became the hotspot for the adults.
The food vendors were the ones smiling when all of this Christmas excitement was over. Whether it be cooked  or raw foods, foods were sold plenty during this season.

Jamaicans were famous for the family dinners on Christmas ,Boxing day, or New Years day which ever day was their preference,so their list of food buying was unending.

Food was plentiful at these family and friends gatherings.
Curry goat, Fry chicken,Jerk chicken,Stew and Jerk pork, Manish water popular known as Goat head soup ,Roast breadfruit ,ackee and saltfish ,and the famous Jamaican rice and peas.
When the clock struck 12 signalling the beginning of Christmas day ,people were too busy dancing,eating,drinking ,shopping and having fun.
Little did we know that the twin year was not going to be the kind of year we were expecting.