Nothing says ‘Christmas’ like the sounds of jolly holiday music. We know all the religious carols such as Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, Joy to the World, and O, Holy Night. We also love the classic songs like Jingle Bells, The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire), White Christmas, Deck the Halls, We Wish You A Merry Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock, Santa Claus is Coming to Town and more. But how many of us Jamaicans can actually relate to these songs? We don’t have snow, so there are no ‘white Christmases’, no sleigh bells to jingle, no chimneys for Santa to slide down, and we don’t need to build a fire to roast chestnuts. So, how do we ring in the season? With our own, homegrown Christmas songs, of course!
Below are some of the Jamaican Christmas classics for you to enjoy this Yuletide season, with links to purchase online, where available. Feel free to make your own playlists!
- Let the Christmas Catch You In A Good Mood – The Joe Gibbs Family of Artists
- Santa Ketch Up Ina Mango Tree – Faith D’Aguilar
- Santa Claus (Do You Ever Come to the Ghetto) – Carlene Davis
- Christmas A Come – The Jolly Boys
- A Very, Very Yellow Christmas – Yellowman
- Christmas in the Sun (album) – Fab 5
- Christmas in the Sun
- Welcome Home to Jamaica
- Christmas Jamaica Style
- Glory Halleljah
- and more
- Christmas Ja – Neville Willoughby
- Sing di Chorus
- Irie Christmas – Freddie McGregor
- Every Day is Christmas – Freddie McGregor
- Christmas Reggae – Bob Marley
- Sound the Trumpets – The Wailers
- Christmas Time is Here – The Heptones
- Christmas Coming – Alton Ellis
- Jesus Was Born Today – Derrick Harriott
- Christmas Time – Reuben Anderson
- Christmas is Coming – Cocoa Tea
Compilations
These compilations include traditional carols and songs, with a Jamaican edge.
- The Reggae Christmas Hits Album – John Holt
- A Reggae Christmas – Various Artistes
- Natty Christmas – Jacob Miller ft. Ray I & Inner Circle
- Joe Gibbs Reggae Christmas – The Joe Gibbs Family of Artists
- The Christmas Album – Various Artistes
- Christmas Reggae – Carlene Davis
- Warm Jamaican Christmas – Various Artistes
