This month, I posed the question to readers on SocaMom.com, Twitter, and Facebook: What are your Caribbean Christmas Traditions? Responses came from people with connections to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados – all living in the United States now, and most spending Christmas in America.  Many had not been to their home countries, let alone spent a Christmas there, in over ten years…. yet, many intend on including their Caribbean Christmas traditions in their holiday festivities here in the states.

As far as food goes, respondents are looking forward to pastelles, dhal purie, curry, pepperpot, garlic pork, sorrel, rum punch, black cake, Jamaican Christmas pudding, ginger beer, mauby, jerk lamb roast, and more.  Most decided to respond anonymously – probably so that no one (*ahem* – me) showed up at Christmas dinner with some Tupperware ready to make a plate. Tricia from BritsAcrossthePond.com (@britsacrosspond on Twitter) shared that she’ll be “playing Christmas soca CD’s [and] going to midnight mass on Christmas Eve.”

I started snacking on pastelles last night… subscribe to my updates to get an email to see photos of my first pastelle making experience!  What are you adding to your holiday festivities to keep your Caribbean traditions included?