Easter in Jamaica is like Christmas without the Christmas carols. Easter is about Jesus. There is no Easter bunny nor any egg decorating, egg hunt or egg basket in sight. We do however celebrate the season with Easter bun. Next to Jesus, it’s the highlight of the season. Unlike the Jamaican Christmas cake that is mostly homemade, traditionally, the Easter bun is usually purchased from one of many specialized bakery brands — which is very appropriate for the season and its star, Jesus. We don’t ever witness its coming into being, we just know it has risen. This may also explain why you will not find many crucifixion re-enactments in Jamaica. The one place on earth with the most churches per sq mile, but no crucifixion parade in sight. It’s all done in the dark, I mean, spirit.
The history and tradition of eating bun and cheese at Easter is not a discussion that most Jamaicans have, it’s a practice that has over time become naturally ingrained into the culture to the acceptance and enjoyment of most. I guess it’s like the Easter bunny, egg, egg hunt and basket or a Christmas tree ornament. Yes, there is the history of how it came to be, but no attention is ever given to the origin. In fact, many eat “bun and cheese” year round. However, Easter bun is slightly different as it is baked with dried fruits; raisins, cherry and currants. The year round version of Jamaican spice bun is typically without the dried fruits.
It is interesting to note that the Easter tradition of bun and cheese is not accompanied by a special drink, time of day to enjoy or even at any given time over the course of the two-week Easter celebrations. It’s there to enjoy whenever one desires, as a snack, an offering to house guests, lunch or after-dinner munching. Due to its high demand and its limited availability during the season, enjoying Easter bun and cheese is often not the most affordable pleasure for some families. As such, the Easter bun is usually purchased the Thursday before Easter, “Holy Thursday,” for not only freshness, but also to ensure the household is not without over the Easter weekend. And even then, it is rationed throughout the weekend. The one tradition that is still practiced from its origin and introduction to Jamaica is that the Easter Bun is to be consumed on Good Friday. In the superstitious folklore past in Britain, our colonizers ate hot cross buns on Good Friday. While the tradition has faded, Jamaica made it her own. After church service on Good Friday, the family enjoys Easter bun and cheese as a snack and then fish is served for dinner.
I enjoyed eating Easter bun and cheese growing up, it’s tasty! Today, I sometimes find myself intuitively partaking in the practice because it’s just something that we do. Once Easter celebrations are over however, so is the Easter bun and cheese. Not even if it’s on sale for 70% off. Once Christ has risen, there is no need for the Easter bun anymore.
Around the world, Easter is marked as the celebration of the beginning of spring, but in Jamaica, it’s the beginning of the season we’ve all been waiting for, when the first blossoms of the mango trees begin to bare new fruit.