Christmas day was far from white and the traditions were far from what I'm used to back home. What better way to celebrate the birth of our Savior than attending the Christmas mass from 10pm -midnight, then partying until 7am the next morning? That's what the first part of the Holiday brought for many Lucians....
Christmas Eve:
11:00pm I have finished playing dominoes for a couple hours with some neighbors down the street. The glass of local wine, or maybe it was the popular Carlo Rossi, has made me a bit tired. I know I have a big morning ahead so I head back to my house to take a powernap for a bit. (I found the fascination Lucians have with dominoes strange, then I realized, "Hey, back home all my relatives play sheepshead and euchre for hours on holidays. No big deal." )
Chrismas Day:
12:00am Well, mass at church should be getting over and the Jou Ve (day break party)should be starting down the street....No sounds though...back to bed for an hour
1:00am Still no music...back to sleep
2:00am Nothing still...ahh...another hour.
3:00am Bass from the speakers and some yelling. It's time to Jou Ve.
3:15am I head up the road a block from my house and see that about 15 or so people are drinking and dancing in a 20x20 hut that I helped put a tarp over for a roof earlier in the day. This party is put on by the local youth and sports group. I think I'll check out the BIG block party at the basketball court across the village, then hit this on my way back home in a few hours.
3:42am I arrive at the court to find hundreds of people gathered under the lights of the court. plenty of loud music and drinks on sale. Although I show up alone, it doesn't take long to find familiar faces and a Malta (my non-alcoholic drink of choice)
5:30am After some time of people watching and hanging with friends I retire from the big jou ve and head back down to my street. Stopping of course at the jou ve there.
6:20am I have enjoyed a beer and some chicken while listening to the soca music blasting from the massive speakers in the hut and return to my house.
6:23am I enter my kitchen. at the same moment, I hear a young woman yell, "Where's the white boy?!?! from down the street. I look out and my friend Guile is already in my front yard letting me know that we are on our way back to the party; And it is time for some dancing.
6:29am I am "whining" with my new found friend. (just picture some provocative dancing. Actually....maybe don't...)
6:58am The sun has come up, neighbors have seen me dance (the sight of which they will later enquire about with unending laughter and interest) I may be a bit cheery from the generous giving of Piton beers the patrons of the party have given me. I reckon I'm ready for some rest now. Enough "whining" for this Christmas.
11:15 am A friend calls, wakes me up, and invites me to his house for lunch with his family. A regular lucian meal of meat (pork, beef, or chicken) rice, and lentils gets my day going. I spend the rest of the afternoon visiting some families whom I have become friends with and play some dominoes late in the afternoon before making a call home.
Christmas Eve:
11:00pm I have finished playing dominoes for a couple hours with some neighbors down the street. The glass of local wine, or maybe it was the popular Carlo Rossi, has made me a bit tired. I know I have a big morning ahead so I head back to my house to take a powernap for a bit. (I found the fascination Lucians have with dominoes strange, then I realized, "Hey, back home all my relatives play sheepshead and euchre for hours on holidays. No big deal." )
Chrismas Day:
12:00am Well, mass at church should be getting over and the Jou Ve (day break party)should be starting down the street....No sounds though...back to bed for an hour
1:00am Still no music...back to sleep
2:00am Nothing still...ahh...another hour.
3:00am Bass from the speakers and some yelling. It's time to Jou Ve.
3:15am I head up the road a block from my house and see that about 15 or so people are drinking and dancing in a 20x20 hut that I helped put a tarp over for a roof earlier in the day. This party is put on by the local youth and sports group. I think I'll check out the BIG block party at the basketball court across the village, then hit this on my way back home in a few hours.
3:42am I arrive at the court to find hundreds of people gathered under the lights of the court. plenty of loud music and drinks on sale. Although I show up alone, it doesn't take long to find familiar faces and a Malta (my non-alcoholic drink of choice)
5:30am After some time of people watching and hanging with friends I retire from the big jou ve and head back down to my street. Stopping of course at the jou ve there.
6:20am I have enjoyed a beer and some chicken while listening to the soca music blasting from the massive speakers in the hut and return to my house.
6:23am I enter my kitchen. at the same moment, I hear a young woman yell, "Where's the white boy?!?! from down the street. I look out and my friend Guile is already in my front yard letting me know that we are on our way back to the party; And it is time for some dancing.
6:29am I am "whining" with my new found friend. (just picture some provocative dancing. Actually....maybe don't...)
6:58am The sun has come up, neighbors have seen me dance (the sight of which they will later enquire about with unending laughter and interest) I may be a bit cheery from the generous giving of Piton beers the patrons of the party have given me. I reckon I'm ready for some rest now. Enough "whining" for this Christmas.
11:15 am A friend calls, wakes me up, and invites me to his house for lunch with his family. A regular lucian meal of meat (pork, beef, or chicken) rice, and lentils gets my day going. I spend the rest of the afternoon visiting some families whom I have become friends with and play some dominoes late in the afternoon before making a call home.
So how was Christmas?
It was different.
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