What does Christmas mean to the children of Trench Town? As much fun as it’s possible to cram into the school holidays. A little more freedom. And a little more fun.
Trench Town Reading Centre’s Christmas party was warming up when we arrived. Mariah Carey was giving those Christmas songs all she’d got on the music system. The bounce-about was in place. Now, this is a very important item on any respectable children’s party list in Jamaica. In case you don’t know, it is an over-sized inflated object, mostly enclosed. You get in, and start bouncing. It’s hard to keep your balance in it, so you fall all over the place. The smallest children usually have a rough time of it, poor things. It’s a dog-eat-dog world in there and those who bounce hardest last longest.
The scent of fried chicken was so delicious that a small group of neighborhood dogs quietly appeared at the gate. They knew they would be shooed away if they came in further, so they kept a respectful distance. For now. But their moment would come.
Inside the classroom, tables and chairs were set out, and the beautiful Christmas tree took pride of place in the middle of the room. The afternoon light slanted in, illuminating the room in patches of brightness. The children had decorated the tree with beautiful stars that they had painted themselves in glitter – luminous greens and pinks.
The children were getting hungry, and who could blame them? Having fun brings on your appetite. While the food was being served, I ventured into the library and learning area, where some amazing T shirts were laid out. They were hand-painted in shades of red, green, black and gold in all kinds of designs – Christmas trees, herring-bone patterns, Jamaican flags, zig zags.
After their meal the children presented these to each other as gifts. Sadly we could not stay for this. But we did help with serving the Christmas dinner – plates heaped up with fried chicken, rice and peas, curry, salad and vegetables.
As we departed, the Christmas carols were still playing. But the Trench Town Reading Centre was hushed. Children at work… Nyamming. (Oh, for non-Jamaican readers, this means, simply – eating!)
As we drove back up Collie Smith Drive towards the busy Half Way Tree area, bursts of music hit us from bars and street side hangouts.
Yes, Christmas is creeping up through Kingston town, after all.
Related articles
- Celebrating Twenty Years with the Children of Trench Town: Saturday, November 23 (petchary.wordpress.com)
- Celebrating Christmas with the Seniors: Much Dancing at Cluster H (petchary.wordpress.com)
Petchary's Blog 
Beautifully written, and wonderful photos – many thanks for this!! I have only recently discovered your blog, and I truly enjoy finding out about Jamaica thru a Jamiacan persons’ words and pictures – a wonderful blog. Happy Holidays to you and your family!!
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Thanks so much, Lawrence! It is great to welcome a new reader! I really appreciate your comments. Please feel free to browse through the archives (I have been blogging for over three years now and have written around 620 posts… Don’t know how that happened!) or you can search on specific topics. Thanks again and warm wishes for the holidays to you and your family too!
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What a wonderful story – really captures the spirit of Christmas and it truly is all about the children. Thank you.
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Thanks so much, Carol. Yes, it’s all for the children. I hope it was an event they will have treasured memories of in years to come!
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I love the Christmas tree with the homemade decorations. We have many on ours and for some reason my children now think I need a theme and should chuck most of them. This will not happen, no theme for me, just memories.
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Oh no, don’t let them throw them out. The home-made ones have far more value than any “theme” decorations you can buy in a store! Memories, indeed.
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Thank you once again for painting our picture with your words. Many of the designs referenced from many African designs – with holiday colours and designs added by some…..
Thanks to a consistent ‘Friend’ we were able to get the Tshits and put on the feast. Your photos are lively and nice to have you and Nev be part of the childres family – Team TTRC!!
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The designs are brilliant. Thanks to the Friend of TTRC! They had a wonderful party.
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Reblogged this on idealisticrebel and commented:
This is important. These children are the future of Haiti. And symbolize the future of the world.
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This is the type of thing I love to see happen in Jamaica, and I hope it continues.
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Thank you so much. These things actually do go on continuously in Jamaica. I have been involved with the Reading Centre for over ten years, now. I will continue to share these things with you. Thank you for your comments and best wishes for the holidays!
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Please do! Happy Holidays to you as well.
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Any chance of buying a t-shirt with one of those wonderful images? Proceeds to go to the Reading Centre? We’d be interested.
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Oh, there’s a thought. I would have to refer you to Roslyn Ellison, who is the director and co-founder of the Centre. I will ask her what she thinks. Do you manufacture T shirts?
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