Easter is one of the most significant and celebrated holidays in the Christian calendar.
It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, as described in the New Testament.
Easter follows the Season of Lent – a 40-day period in the Christian liturgical year that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday. It is a time of spiritual renewal, characterised by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, as well as a period of reflection and preparation for celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Easter is a movable feast that typically falls between March 22 and April 25, following the first full moon after the vernal equinox.
Beyond its religious significance, Easter has evolved into a global cultural celebration marked by a diverse range of customs, foods, and festivities.
Different countries have unique ways of observing the holiday. Jamaica adds its own vibrant and flavourful twist to Easter, with kite festivals, and bun and cheese, and fish staple foods at this time of year. In the United States, the Easter Bunny, egg hunts, and chocolate treats are part of the celebrations.
A UNIQUE ISLAND EXPERIENCE
In Jamaica, Easter is a deeply meaningful time that blends Christian traditions with rich cultural flavours. It’s a season filled with churchgoing, family gatherings, special foods, and spirited community events.
1. RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE
Jamaica is a predominantly Christian country, and Easter is observed with great reverence:
• Holy Week church services: Many Jamaicans attend church multiple times during Holy Week, including Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
• Good Friday: A solemn day marked by church services, fasting, and reflection on Jesus’ crucifixion.
2. EASTER FOODS
Jamaican Easter foods are iconic, deeply flavourful, and central to the celebration.
• Bun and cheese: Possibly the most well-known Jamaican Easter tradition. The bun is a sweet, spiced bread filled with dried fruits, often enjoyed with slices of processed cheese. This tradition is rooted in colonial-era British hot cross buns, but has been distinctly Jamaicanised.
• Fish, especially fried or Escoveitch fish: Since many Jamaicans avoid eating meat on Good Friday, fish becomes the centerpiece of the day’s meals.
• Bammy and festival: Commonly paired with fish, bammy is a flatbread made from cassava, and festival is a slightly sweet fried dough.
• Soup (especially fish or vegetable): Many households prepare hearty soups, particularly for lunch on Good Friday.
CREATIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE EASTER
If you’re looking to experience Easter with a twist, here are some fun and creative ways to immerse yourself in the celebration:
1. Attend a beachside sunrise service
Many Jamaican churches organise Easter morning services by the beach. Worshippers gather to watch the sunrise, sing hymns, and celebrate the resurrection in a breathtaking natural setting.
2. Go kite flying
Kite flying is a cherished Easter tradition in Jamaica, blending fun, creativity, and cultural heritage. During the Easter season, especially on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, Jamaicans of all ages take to open fields, hillsides, and beaches to fly colourful, home-made kites.
Often crafted from bamboo, paper, and string, these kites come in various shapes and sizes, sometimes adorned with intricate designs or bearing messages.
The activity symbolises the resurrection of Christ, with the soaring kites representing His ascension into heaven.
Beyond its religious significance, kite flying is a joyful social event, bringing families and communities together in celebration and friendly competition.
3. Join a community bun-making workshop
Baking Easter buns from scratch can be a fun and communal experience. Some parishes or community centres host cooking classes that teach the art of making this beloved treat.
4. Have a fish fry
Host a family fish fry with Escoveitch fish, bammy, and callaloo. Add reggae music and enjoy the vibes Jamaican style.
5. Watch or participate in Passion plays and events
Churches and drama groups across the island often stage re-enactments of the Passion of Christ. These are moving, immersive ways to reflect on the Easter message.
6. Go on a nature retreat
Easter is a great time for picnics, river lymes, and hikes. Locations like Blue Mountain, Reach Falls, or Castleton Gardens offer a serene way to reflect and relax during the long weekend.
EASTER FUN FACTS AND TIPS
Tip: Not all bun and cheese are created equal! Try bun from local and major bakeries for different styles and flavours.
Fun Fact: The tradition of giving bun and cheese may have originated from the British hot cross bun tradition, but evolved during Jamaica’s colonial period. The addition of cheese came post-WWII, when canned cheese became widely available.
Tip: Arrive early for Easter services – churches can be packed, especially on Good Friday and Easter Sunday!
Fun Fact: Easter often coincides with the start of ‘Spring Break’, so you’ll find a lively tourist atmosphere in places like Montego Bay and Negril.
Tip: For a true Jamaican Easter breakfast, pair your bun and cheese with a cup of Milo, hot chocolate tea, or even a sip of sorrel wine.
BRINGING EASTER TO LIFE
What makes Easter in Jamaica stand out is how it weaves together the sacred and the joyful. It’s not just a holiday – it’s a vibrant cultural moment that touches every aspect of life, from the spiritual to the culinary.
Whether you’re attending a candle-lit church service, biting into your third piece of bun and cheese, listening to gospel music on the radio, or enjoying a colourful kite-flying event, Easter in Jamaica is a soulful celebration of life, hope, and renewal.
And, while Jamaica’s Easter is special, it also shares a heartbeat with Easter celebrations around the world: a universal longing for light, life, and love renewed.
From Rome to Kingston, from Jerusalem to Negril, Easter is a powerful reminder that out of darkness comes light – and out of sorrow, joy.
Final Tip: If you’re in Jamaica for Easter, don’t just observe, participate. Try the foods, attend a church service, chat with locals, and soak in the spirit. You’ll walk away not just with memories, but with a deeper appreciation for how faith and culture can unite people in celebration.
GLOBAL EASTER TRADITIONS
Despite its common Christian roots, Easter takes on distinct flavours across the globe, reflecting local cultures, climates, and histories.
1. UNITED STATES AND CANADA
In North America, Easter is a festive holiday with strong commercial elements:
• Easter egg hunts: Children search for candy-filled eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny.
• Decorated eggs: Families dye and decorate hard-boiled eggs.
• Church services: Many attend sunrise services, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
2. ITALY
Italy, home to the Vatican, treats Easter as a solemn and grand occasion:
• Holy Week celebrations: Including Palm Sunday processions and Maundy Thursday foot-washing ceremonies.
• Traditional foods: Colomba di Pasqua (Easter Dove Cake), lamb dishes, and artichokes.
• Rome’s significance: Thousands gather at St. Peter’s Basilica for the Pope’s Easter Sunday mass.
3. SPAIN
• Semana Santa (Holy Week): A week-long series of parades with hooded penitents and religious floats.
• Processions: Particularly dramatic in Seville and Malaga.
4. GREECE
• Midnight church service: Worshippers light candles at midnight to symbolise Jesus’ resurrection.
• Red-dyed eggs: Representing the blood of Christ and new life.
• Roast lamb: A key Easter Sunday feast item.
5. THE PHILIPPINES
• Salubong: A pre-dawn ritual reenacting the meeting of the risen Christ and Mary.
• Colourful street dramas: Passion plays are performed in towns and villages.
6. ETHIOPIA
• Fasika (Ethiopian Easter): Comes after 55 days of fasting (no meat or dairy).
• Church service: Often lasting through the night.
• Feasting: Begins with traditional dishes like doro wat (spicy chicken stew).
