A family guide to having a Barbadian Christmas
When you imagine a perfect Christmas setting, there’s no doubt a fine coat of snow on every surface.
This image of Christmas is ingrained in our imaginations but it’s far from the reality. The last white Christmas in the UK was 2010. The rest of the time, it’s always cold and often wet too.
So, instead of crossing your fingers for a white Christmas this year, why not buck the trend and go somewhere the weather keeps its promises?
Christmas is a great time to escape the colder seasons, and despite a guaranteed lack of snow, festive celebrations are just as festive in hotter countries.
Reasons to Take Christmas Abroad
Avoid catching a cold, scraping ice off car windscreens, and the crawling Christmas traffic by taking the family to Barbados. You can leave the Christmas shopping rush behind too. Simply pack your summer clothes and visit one of the many shopping malls in Barbados to find presents for the family.
You could gift your partner with a day at the Royal Westmoreland Spa, which is a different but highly effective form of Christmas relaxation. For partners of golf fanatics, you could gift some new golf gear from the Royal Westmoreland shop at Limegrove Shopping Centre in Holetown.
Christmas in Barbados
In Barbados, the yuletide season is particularly important: roughly 80% of the inhabitants are Christian, so celebrations run throughout December across the island. You can expect carol-singing, Gospel choirs, and sunset concerts in the Church Village Green.
A tradition on the island is to get dressed up in your smartest clothes and celebrate Christmas in Queen’s Park, which is in the capital city Bridgetown. Expect festivities and tidings of comfort and joy as the island’s people and churches come together to celebrate Christmas in the sun.
Sample Some Barbadian Christmas Cuisine
When it comes to family celebrations, there’s lots of potential on the island. Many of the restaurants in Barbados are open over the Christmas holidays, and some are open on Christmas Day. Whether you’d like to sample the local cuisine or stick to a traditional Christmas dinner, there’s something for you.
Bajan Great Cake is an import of the British Christmas pudding, with a Barbadian twist of spices and Bajan rum. A Christmas ham is another Barbadian twist on a Christmas classic, with cloves and pineapple or sorrel glazes. If you’d prefer, you can always kick the Christmas trend altogether and sample some of the local fresh fish dishes.
Rather than getting away this winter at the expense of Christmas, you’ll find that there’s just as much festivity to be enjoyed on this small but beautifully formed island. Take a look at our holidays page, and contact us if you have any questions.