Tis the night before Christmas and all through Bimshire (another nickname for Barbados), people are "pulling down" their houses after a weekend of painting, cleaning windows and scrubbing floors. Hedges and lawns have been cut. Driveways power-washed. It is a Bajan tradition. By Christmas morning, new curtains will be up, new table-cloths and table-runners will be adorning tables. Children's eyes will be sparkling with glee at the thought of the presents under the tree.
In Barbados there is no snow, so it's the music and the traditions that proclaim Christmas is in the air.
After attending the 5:00 a.m. services at various churches across the island, people will go to Queen's Park to hear the Royal Barbados Police Force Band serenade them. Dressed in their Christmas finery, it is largely a national fashion parade.
Here is a clip of this well-known, internationally-acclaimed band playing in the park one Christmas morning.
Christmas in the Park: The Royal Barbados
Police Force Band [Sou: michigancoppins, 2015]
As a girl, it was these songs on the radio that heralded Christmas for me - and I still enjoy them.
Christmas Feeling - The Merrymen of Barbados [Edward Spencer 2013]
"The Things of Christmas" - The Draytons Two
[Credit: bajanmusicfan 2010]
A Bajan Carol, The Cecilian Singers
[Credit: Bajan Music Fan 2013]
Now, just for my new reader from Colombia, this is a parang song by a Barbadian who made her home in Trinidad, Singing Francine. Apparently it is still heard on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, during this season!
"Hurray Hurrah" - Singing Francine [Credit: Edward
Spencer, 2012]
This one is a contemporary TrinBajan connection - two young gospel singers Joshua Ali of Trinidad and Jai Simone of Barbados, who collaborated on the traditional hymn, "O Holy Night" and what a rendition it is!
"O Holy Night" - Joshua Ali featuring Jai Simone [Joshua Ali 2018]
Local radio stations have been creating nostalgia with some oldie Christmas Barbadian songs - and the thing about Christmas songs is that no matter how many years pass, many of them still sound as fresh as when they were released that first Christmas season, well for those of us who love the Christmas season. For those who don't, they are just cheesey.
As someone who enjoys cheese, take these two for the road. One is by the recently departed, Sir Don, and is a great promotion for our world-class rum industry; the other is by Nathalee Burke, who was featured for my Independence Day entry.
Drunk for Xmas, Sir Don [Credit: bwe music,
2015]
Caroling, Caroling – Nathalee Burke
[Bajanbloom Bloom 20101]
On that note I say as Clement Clarke Moore's Santa Claus chuckled in 'A Visit From St. Nicholas': "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night". Ho! Ho! Ho!
