(sing )Long time ago in treasure beach , the old time people say, house top white with bammy bread and the wood floor red with dye ,swallows flying in the Christmas breeze just above the Seymour grass(i dub the rest)yes but remember when ,those of us who had the experience ,going up to Auntie Martha to pickup the Christmas Bun ,dressmakers and tailors will be busy making the latest style ,then dances and the boat race at Great Bay ,as kid i used to save coins by cutting a hole in the condensed milk tin can just for Christmas.In later years the dance at Sandy Bank School, Grand Market at Black River.love those days .

Good old days Jamrock, cannotbe forgotten or erase gone are those special days. Merry christmas man

A Merry Tune: Christmas in Jamaica by Brent Dowe

Youtube Reggae Version
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PvTrAqQLhg

Ah, ah, ah, ah.
It's Christmas time.

We've reached the same old time of year,
Where everyone will bring you cheers.
Soon your boss, your Aunt Marie
Will be next to you, and everybody!

It's Christmas time, let's celebrate.
It's Christmas time, let's congregate.

This is the time to make things right,
Pack up your troubles and leave them behind.
You may be broke, but your mind is weak,
It's full of plans for the company.

It's Christmas time, let's celebrate.
It's Christmas time, let's congregate.

It's Christmas time, oh, oh yeah.
(..)

You've send your cards and greetings, oh, oh.
For me, that is feeling good.
You've worked so hard, right trought the year,
Pull out to [?] and live your life [?]

It's Christmas time, let's celebrate.
It's Christmas time, let's congregate.

It's Christmas time, the bells are ringing.
It's Christmas time, the birds are singing.


Old Time Christmas in Jamaica
...white washed walls, the country fair, Christmas market.

White washing of walls and tree roots with temper lime using beaten banana stalks

Bare footed people obtained shoes, which posed difficulty in greeting the ever-present pebbles.

Country fair in the school yard with rumba-box, guitar and saxophone, Christmas hat, donkey ride, merry-go-round.

Grand market in town squares the night before followed by Sunday church with hat. Even those who never went for the entire year, went on Christmas

Wincarnis wine was bought. White rum flowed. Egg nog was home made with duck bread.

All elderly got a meal, rice and peas, ham, sorrel, home made cake.

Toys brought this time - dolly with blue eyes and blond hair, balloon, fee-fee, fire rockets (now outlawed), starlight.

Togetherness of community and family

Tailors iron was filled with coals. Dressmakers irons placed on coals with cardboard.

Christmas carol concerts and schoolhouse concerts and tea meetings with fundraising, toasts with long un-pronounceable words and money is offered to "take down" or "put up" a would-be performer on the homemade platform.

Present Day Christmas in Jamaica
All higglers to the streets in every crevice and corner.

A new set takes over the uptown plazas (non-traditional sellers).Visit Miami, Curacao, New York and buy wholesale.

Not only caterers bake, but every household is soaking fruits and attempt baking dark fruit cakes to varying degrees of burnout.

Supermarkets sell baked ham, smoked ham, Grace ham, half ham, ¼ ham.

Gungo is in every rice & peas while red peas goes on vacation.Sorrel drink must have ginger.

Hotels offer "ring out old year" parties with breakfast.
By Cordelia Lewis


Nostalgia: Christmastime in Old Jamaica...The Early Years
www.abengnews.com/2008/12/06/christmastime-in-old-jamaica-the-early-years

Does anyone know the name of the group that sings "let the christmas catch you inna good mood" Let the christmas catch you feeling fine, put on your dancing shoe and come with me tonight, we gonna rock til broad daylight"....plese some tell me. I have not heard it in about 20years and I am dying to hear it...

Thanks
treasure beach girl

Jo Gibbs All Stars

The Joe Gibbs Allstars - Let Christmas Catch You In A Good Mood!

Youtube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkxYy5m2p30

Lord Have mercy I miss the good old time Christmas. Waiting to hear Mas Cecil coming up the road playing the Christmas carols.We were so happy back then so little but yet so happy. Bring back those good old days.

Joe Gibbs Allstars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkxYy5m2p30

I am thinking that the song Treasurebeach Girl is wondering about is the one done by Home T 4 in the 80s

Gill, you never fail to amaze me with your knowledge of music dear friend!

Thanks guys!!!! this really puts me in the good Christmas sprits!!!

Jean -At the end of the day, it all comes down to my misspent youth, partying when I should have been studying and my secret yearning to be a DJ....lol.

Another tune I love - Gable Hall School Choir - Reggae Christmas

http://youtu.be/uFOsEIaj0Ss

Here's another one - Memories....Also shows my age....lol

Carlene Davis, Jacob Miller and Ray I VS Trinity (Santa Clause, Do You Ever Come to the Ghetto

http://youtu.be/w5V6fDqATZo