As Easter approaches, Jamaicans living abroad start to feel a tug at their heartstrings—an innate craving for the flavors and festivities that define the season back home. The essence of a Jamaican Easter is steeped in tradition, community, and, of course, the irreplaceable culinary delights. Whether you’re miles away from the island or nestled in a city with a vibrant Jamaican population, bringing a piece of home into your Easter celebrations is essential. Here’s how Jamaicans infuse Easter with that unmistakable Jamaican spirit, no matter where in the the world they find themselves.
1. Hosting a Fish Fry
Once you enter a foreign land, almost all Jamaicans become family. United in your quest for true Jamaican cuisines, flavors, and, of course, a good Jamaican vibe, what better way to connect with home than a backyard fish fry? With everyone chipping in, there is no better way to recapture the essence of home. Complete with reggae beats, dancehall moves, and stories, it should be enough to transport you back to warm Jamaican nights.
2. Going to church
Attending church on Easter Sunday is a non-negotiable tradition for many Jamaicans, a practice instilled from childhood. If your family raised you ‘right’, Christmas and Easter are two non optional holidays where you must find yourself in church. And so whether you are located ya’ad or abroad you will find yourself filing into those holy pews if not for forgiveness, out of respect and nostalgia.
3. Flying in Family for a Taste of Home
Many Jamaicans view Easter as an opportunity to reunite with family. That said, it’s not always without an ulterior motive. If you notice them checking your bags before they hug you or intently eyeing your luggage from the moment you enter the house, it’s not their fault; it’s the bun and cheese cravings. It might not be the only reason they invited you over, but know it’s up there in the top 2 reasons.
4. Hunting Down Jamaican Bun and Cheese
No Easter is complete without the staple bun and cheese, and Jamaicans living abroad go to great lengths to find it. This often involves scouring local Caribbean markets or networking within the community to locate a batch that tastes just like home. It’s a pursuit driven by the desire to maintain a tangible connection to Jamaican culture, sharing this tradition with friends and family to keep the essence of the holiday alive. If all else fails, check out our Jamaican Spiced Bun Recipe and make some of your own.
5. An Indoor Jamaican Easter Feast
Even when large gatherings aren’t feasible, Jamaicans ensure the spirit of Easter is felt through an indoor feast. This intimate celebration features all the traditional dishes: fish prepared in every way imaginable, alongside festival, bammy, and the indispensable bun and cheese—if you managed to secure it. It’s a labor of love, where each dish is prepared with recipes passed down through generations, bringing a piece of Jamaica to the Easter table away from home.
For Jamaicans, Easter away from home is a deep yearning to celebrate faith, culture, and community. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with your roots and hold sacred what makes you Jamaican. Whether it’s a fusion of flavors, sounds, and traditions from the island, or a gathering with fellow Jamaicans the goal is to come alive, with a taste of home.
9 Comments
I love how deeply Jamaicans hold their love of family for this holiday. It’s really inspiring.
I love finding out things about other cultures. Thanks for the peek behind the curtain about how these people celebrate easter.
Your insights into how Jamaicans living abroad celebrate Easter are fascinating! It’s wonderful to see how traditions are maintained and adapted across different cultures and geographic locations. Your article provides valuable perspective on the importance of cultural heritage and community connections, especially during holidays. Great job capturing the essence of Easter celebrations among Jamaicans abroad!
Jamaicans living abroad celebrate Easter with a vibrant mix of traditions that reflect their cultural heritage. Thanks for sharing this post!
Flying in family to celebrate in another place would be so special! It’s like bringing home right to you.
Yes to church on Easter. My mom used to get so dressed up and she’d get me dressed up too. I wear a dress or suit, but nothing so fancy as we did when I was young.
It’s good to see that some people haven’t forgotten the true meaning of Easter. It makes my heart sing with praise!
I wish I had Jamaican friends. This Easter would have been a blast.
That’s interesting to see how people in different cultures celebrate the occasions. Here in my place we don’t celebrate Easter but it’s always good to know things in life.