From left: Sandy Beach, Ann Beach, Rose Wehrli and Edward Wehrli at the Christmas dinner party hosted by Jennifer Lim at Dillsbury Avenue, St Andrew on Thursday December 25.

There is really no Christmas celebration like a Jamaican celebration, whether it be here or hosted abroad by fellow Jamaicans.

The simple truth is, very few other people celebrate with the passion and/or gusto with which Jamaicans commemorate this annual holiday. From the lavish lunches, brunches and dinners on Christmas Day, to the equally lavish events on Boxing Day, and all the other days leading to the new year, it all makes for one fabulous celebration!

As is their custom, Christmas Day saw Edward and Carla Seaga opening up their Golden-Triangle residence and hosting their annual Christmas Day brunch, made that much more special by the celebrated Eddie Seaga eggnog, and the Carla Seaga sorrel and champagne mix, that is always the toast of the occasion. This year, son Christopher lent his skills to the preparation of the traditional Yuletide feast and daughter Gabrielle proved a fabulous hostess as friends rolled in, many bearing gifts in the spirit of the season, to break bread and share libations and toast the occasion. But perhaps, the most remarkable feat of the Seagas' annual do is the fact that upon their departure, Eddie Seaga, presented each guest with a beautifully wrapped present and Christmas card. Talk about style perfect!

Jennifer's do

And speaking of style and perfection, also hosting her annual Christmas Day brunch was the socialite extraordinaire Jennifer Lim, whose St Andrew residence was simply rocking with Christmas cheer as family and friends gathered to share in the festive spirit. With the pitta-patter of children's feet punctuating the afternoon and the splish-splash of pool games under the watchful eyes of their parents, adults toasted the season with prime libations. They mulled and debated topical national and international issues, enjoyed a cosmopolitan feast and y'all know we are talking nothing but haute fab here!

Benjamin's Do

Later on however, it was all about businessman Kenny Benjamin's annual Christmas dinner at his Stony Hill estate! With the noted singer Charmaine Limonius singing Christmas carols; a multicultural fare on offer and his residence overflowing with friends and family, we are talking a simply memorable shindig!

It was an embrace of the solemnity of the spirit of the season, to a spirited celebration of the occasion that was accented by the exchange of gifts and an all pervading warmth and conviviality. The occasion became one big sing-along that saw guests making requests of the performer and then all joining in the rendition to create a spirit of embrace.

NEW YORK CELEBRATION

Meanwhile, over in New York, the Christmas celebrations Jamaican style was the vogue, as was exemplified by the celebrations in Long Island that was so fab, it's still the talk of the season.

The event started with the annual Sunday brunch hosted by the diva Diane Holt, at her beautiful home. Here the theme for her decorations was angels; angels here, there and everywhere! Singing angels, shining angels, angels aglow, horn-blowing angels, here an angel, there an angel!

The fare served up for the appreciative guests included: one huge oven-roasted salmon, done just so! Then there were the choice tenderloins of jerk pork, sautéd liver, ahhh, and the sheer delight of golden fried dumplings, lasagne and so much more! No brunch at Christmas is complete without the sorrel and to add to the setting and panache, freshly made raspberry bubbly from the hostess herself.

Monday was spent doing Macy's parade at Herald Square, picture- taking with Santa, Rockefeller Center, FAO Schwartz, subway riding, cab-taking and the New York City thang! Man, it was so cold!

traditional dinner

Then there was Christmas dinner with Frances Allison, hosted by the matriarch herself, known to friends and family simply as Francella! This was a fabulous traditional Jamaican dinner with the main dish being tender, succulent portions of goat, well seasoned from the night before, all curried up and served with gungo rice and peas! This was the lick-your-finger style Christmas dinner! There was fried chicken with rice and peas and for the English guests, rib-eye roast done to rare perfection!

After the main event at Wellington road, the party moved to the Oates' residence on Sterling Road where Bruckins was the theme! And master drummer of Broadway's Lion King fame, Jamaica-born Junior Gabu Wedderburn, was turning the Christmas evening into one lovely piece of bruckins/pocomania/revival celebration. The spirits in the drums moved young and old, as guests ranging in age from three to 93 were on the floor doing their best Nettleford interpretation of poco moves!

Noted performer Fleurrette Harris was doing her thing when one 80-odd-year-old woman threw down her cane and took to the dance floor, giving into the drums that were beating up a storm! Lawd a mercy, everyone had to back down and applaud with nuff respect! Of course, the evening was such fun and so entertaining because the lovely and dignified maestro Louise Oates led us all a singing in arrangement, and thus making the festive occasion a joy indeed.

Well, on Saturday the festivity continued. This time, the annual after-Christmas get-together was held at Wellington Road and hosted by John Windle. This was another fantastic night! The guests were all too kind, as all came bearing gifts. There was Hortense Tulloch, her husband Brian and her two lovely kids who came from the Bronx; there was Angela Douglas-Wallace and her three beautiful children from Mount Vernon, Ken Cyrus from Connecticut, Milton and Diana Baker from Brooklyn, Rose Green, Rose Lee-Dawkins, Blossom Denny and the charming Devan Oates and so many others!

This was the night for the Sankofa move, where one looks backward in order to move forward. The conversations were enlightening and political. Obama was the main topic of discussion, followed by the soon-to-be move to (hopefully) make the deserving Caroline Kennedy the junior senator from New York. The night was not over as later the Williams family, the Fairweathers, and the Jacksons joined the celebrations to squeals of delight, as it was a reunion of sorts. Family members who had not seen each other in over 16 years were out and celebrating, and it made for a very touching do, especially when international telephone link-ups followed with greetings pouring in from not just Jamaica, but all over the globe!

Then for many, it was into NYC on Sunday for the Lion King where once again, the talent of Wedderburn was displayed as he skilfully and passionately mesmerised all with his performance in the famed musical, that left many teary-eyed, homesick and intensely proud all at the same time!

Talk about a Merry Christmas!

Contribution from Cherise Francis-Windle, New York.

Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer - From left: Ruth Hussey her husband Laurie, daughter Angie, granddaughter Christelle Harris and son-in-law Anthony Harris, share good family time at the Christmas dinner party, hosted by Jennifer Lim.

Christopher Seaga

Rose Wehrli (left), spends some time with hostess Jennifer Lim and Edward Wehrli.

Nathaniel Stewart/Freelance Photographer - Carla Seaga and daughter Gabrielle.