Christmas Eve in the former Capital
Downtown Belize City was abuzz with shoppers looking for the last minute gifts. Those who stayed away from the mad rush were at home putting final touches to their houses or getting a head start on the ham and turkey. News Five’s Marion Ali hit the streets and has a sample of Christmas Eve activities in the old capital.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Over at Sadie Faber’s residence on Faber’s Road, the Christmas ham was already baked. And while the family had already begun to eat from it, the rest of the Christmas dinner is still in the making.
Marion Ali
“Weh yoh di do?”
Sadie Faber, Belize City resident
sadie faber
“Stew chicken and then ah wah cook takari chicken.”
Marion Ali
“Dat dah fi today yoh seh?”
Sadie Faber
“Yes, fi today.”
Marion Ali
“And then when the ham and the turkey wah mek?”
Sadie Faber
“Well deh done bake ham, turkey gwein in tonight, later on.”
We caught up with a busload of villagers from Lemonal who came to the City to do their final shopping before Christmas.
Marion Ali
“Ah see some gifts yah man.”
Victoreen Anthony, Lemonal Villager
“Aha fi mi lee grandson.”
Marion Ali
“Ah see some rum deh too.”
Victoreen Anthony
victoreen anthony
“Fi mi bredda.”
Marion Ali
“Yoh done get yoh ham and turkey?”
Victoreen Anthony
“Long time. I got that long time home, done bake.”
gertrude anthony
Gertrude Anthony, Lemonal Resident
“We have wi Christmas list but we don’t have toys and that kinds of things because it’s too expensive.”
Marion Ali
So what you giving the kids this year?
Gertrude Anthony
“Well I’ll be giving them a lot of food to eat and drench out, bitters.”
Marion Ali
“So deh wah get purge fi Christmas?”
Gertrude Anthony
“Yes, purge.”
Tony Anthony
tony anthony
“Actually I noh celebrate Christmas you know but em this dah just wah routine thing fi me monthly, yoh know.”
Marion Ali
“What, wah case ah beer?”
Tony Anthony
“Well like everybody di eat and drink soh I di eat and drink too.”
Our rounds took us to the Port Loyola area where this boy was giving the dining room chairs a proper cleaning.
This other youth was carrying home marley he and his mother had just purchased.
And this man was painting this house for a family who was also making some last minute preparations. Whether you are also making final preparations or have done so already, Sadie Faber captures the spirit of Christmas well when she shared how she will celebrate it this year.
Sadie Faber
“I wah dance up with mi daughter deh and mi son deh. That’s all ah got fi do fi the Christmas.”
Marion Ali for News Five.
God bless Belize at Christmas and throughout the year. My hope for you is that you won’t be caught up in the commercial greed that we in America have been captivated by. If you go to an American mall at Christmas, you will see the most miserable people, spending money they can’t afford to spend, all the while feeling obligated because of tradition. December 25th is not even Jesus’ birthday, it is a pagan holiday. I remember a friend at Gales Point who survived by fishing, he had little possesions HOWEVER he had peace. I am not saying that Belize should not prosper financially (may God make you rich). I simply mean DON’T fall into the trap of wasteless spending that many of us in the US have fallen into. May God raise you up among nations!!!!!!!!
That’s the Belize I remember, the smell of ham, cake, rice wine, berry wine & going from house to house eating cake & drinking lemonade. I liked the red one or for you non Kruffy, strawberry flavored soda.
Robert2, we are already in the trap, we need a reminder of the way we once celebrated, when parents shamelessly re-wrapped old gifts & we had fun just being together, dancing & visiting with family & some years the Jancunu dancers came around to provide added entertainment.
Getrude, you know bitters dah punishment, weh kinda krismus gift dat?