Christmas in the Bahamas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
There were listings a plenty, at the click of a mouse

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Bahamas real estate deeds soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of powder white beaches danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had dreams of a long, warm sunny nap.

Another year has come and almost gone. Our Bahamas homes are decorated for Christmas. Many of the trees are from the north, but we've dressed them with shells and sand dollars. Our homes are ablaze with poinsettias and clippings from the “snow on the mountain” plant.

At night, the sound of goat skin drums and horns fill the air as the various Junkanoo groups put in their final practice for the annual Boxing Day parade.

The fish markets are doing a brisk trade with Bahamians buying hog snapper for the traditional Christmas breakfast of boiled fish (“burl fish”) and native yellow grits, a delicacy of succulent fish simmered in a tasty broth of stock with potatoes, onions, hot red pepper and lime.

Unseasonably cool weather has held the temperatures in the high 60s to mid 70s with brilliant blue skies. The tourists are basking in the sunshine and swimming.

This is truly a wonderful time of year.