ADVO ISSUE 3.8 || December 2025

MAGAZINE

The Royal Shop Christmas Catalogue INSIDE

Christmas

Edition

advo_magazine || www.advomag.com

Issue 3.8 || December 2025

EDITOR'S NOTE

C

hristmas in the Caribbean has always been its own kind of magic—where the warmth isn't just in the weather, but in the way our communities come together, blending traditions carried across oceans with innovations born right here in our islands.

This special edition celebrates that unique Caribbean Christmas spirit. From the kitchens where black cake has been soaking since November, to the airports filled with diaspora families making their way home—we explore what the season means across our region.

You'll find stories about our tables and our traditions, our celebrations and our struggles.

Because Caribbean Christmas is never just one thing: it's joyful and complicated, deeply rooted and constantly evolving, sacred and secular, local and global all at once.

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We're also delighted to feature the Royal Shop Christmas catalogue this edition, showcasing exquisite jewelry pieces perfect for making this holiday season truly memorable.

Whether you're reading this from your childhood home or from thousands of miles away, whether you're hosting the family gathering or working through the holidays, whether your Christmas is abundant or austere—we hope these stories remind you that you're part of something larger: a Caribbean community that knows how to make the season bright, even when times aren’t.

From our editorial family to yours, we wish you peace, joy, and the kind of Christmas that only the Caribbean can deliver.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Sam & San

w h at ’ s i n s i d e Home for Christmas

The Environmental Cost of Christmas When Christmas Feels Heavy The Royal Shop Christmas Catalogue

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Home for Christmas: The Diaspora Journey

T

he notification comes in late October: "Book now for best holiday fares to Barbados." To Kingston.

To Port of Spain. To wherever home used to be, or still is, or exists in that complicated space between memory and reality.

You're sitting in a London flat or a Toronto apartment where winter has begun its siege, and suddenly you're calculating. Days off.

Flight costs. How many gifts you can fit in one suitcase. Whether this is the year you finally go back for Christmas.

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For millions of Caribbean people scattered across the globe, this calculation is as much a part of the season as any advent calendar. It's a ritual of longing, logistics, and the persistent question: Where, exactly, is home?

The Pull That Cannot Be Replicated There's something about Christmas in the Caribbean that refuses to be replicated abroad. Londoners will tell you about the Caribbean pop-ups in Brixton, the black cake from the West Indian grocer, the parties where everyone knows every soca carol. But it's not the same.

The pull intensifies as December approaches. Social media fills with photos: Christmas lights strung between palm trees, beach limes on Christmas Eve, children in new clothes. Each image is a small tug on an invisible thread.

The Economics of Return But returning home for Christmas is rarely simple. Flight prices surge. Time off means burning precious leave days. There are gifts to buy for family who've watched you build a life abroad and expect proof of that success.

Marcus Chen, a Jamaican accountant in Toronto, hasn't been home for Christmas in three years. "The cost is one thing. But it's also the expectation. Everybody want a piece of you. Your time, your money, your attention. And you feel guilty because you the one who leave. Sometimes I wonder if I working so hard abroad just to afford to go home and work even harder."

This tension—between duty and desire, between what home demands and what you can give—defines the diaspora Christmas experience.

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“

That first breath of home after months or years away is profound.

The Journey For those who make the trip, it begins long before the flight. There's the shopping—specific items everyone back home has requested. Your suitcase becomes a cargo hold of small miracles.

The airport on departure day becomes a reunion before the reunion. You spot them immediately: other Caribbean people heading 8

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home. There's a particular energy, barely contained excitement mixed with exhaustion. Everyone is carrying too much. You exchange knowing glances.

We are all making the same pilgrimage.

The flight itself is its own ritual. As the plane fills, accents thicken, voices rise.

People who've been carefully codeswitching for months let their guard down. The Caribbean reclaims its children mid-flight, somewhere over the Atlantic.

First Breath Then the airplane door opens and Caribbean air hits you. That first breath of home after months or years away is profound. The warmth, the humidity, the smell that's part sea salt, part earth, part something ineffable you've been missing.

"Every single time I land at Grantley Adams Airport and step out into that Barbados heat, I cry," says a returning national. "Something just breaks open in me. It's like my body remembering something my mind had tried to forget."

The drive from the airport is familiar and foreign at once. Roads you knew have changed—new buildings where old landmarks used to be. But the bones are the same. The way the light hits the water. The rhythm of the place pulses underneath whatever cosmetic changes have occurred.

The Weight of Homecoming Family is waiting. They always are. An army of relatives ready to engulf you in ISSUE 3.8 || ADVOmag.com

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embraces and immediate interrogations.

"You get fat!" "You get thin!" "You eating good?" The concern is always about food, always about whether abroad is taking care of you the way home would.

The Christmas Day Miracle

But there's a weight to being home that the diaspora rarely discusses openly.

You're expected to have succeeded. The questions come: "How's work?" "You buy property yet?" There's pressure to treat everyone, to be generous, to demonstrate that the sacrifice of leaving was worth it.

Yet on Christmas morning, something shifts. The entire island participates in the same ritual simultaneously. Everyone is cooking the same foods, playing the same music, dressed up, visiting, eating, drinking, laughing. For one day, the collective memory of Caribbean Christmas overwhelms individual circumstances.

"Sometimes going home for Christmas feels like a performance I'm not sure I can pull off," admits Kwame Robinson, a Trinidadian teacher in Brooklyn. "I'm living check to check in New York, but back home they think because I in America, I'm rich. So I pretend. I smile. I pay. And I come back broke and exhausted."

Between Two Worlds The diaspora Christmas is fundamentally about existing between worlds. You're home, but not quite. You belong, but differently. The language comes back, but there are moments when you reach for a word and only the foreign one comes. Your cousins have inside jokes you're not part of. Children have been born and grown in your absence. Life has continued, and this is both obvious and devastating.

At the same time, you've changed.

You notice things about home you never noticed before—inefficiencies, attitudes that grate against your evolved

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sensibilities. You bite your tongue, because who are you to criticize when you're not here doing the work of daily life?

“

The diaspora Christmas is fundamentally about existing between worlds.

You’re home, but not quite.

You're at your grandmother's house where Christmas has been celebrated for generations. The table is laden with ham, jug-jug, black cake, sorrel. The room is full of voices—some you recognize, some belonging to children who didn't exist last time you came home. Someone puts on parang or soca Christmas songs. Your aunt insists you eat more. Your cousin teases you about your softened accent.

And for a few hours, you stop calculating. You stop performing. You stop existing between worlds and simply exist in this one, the original one, the one that made you. The diaspora dissolves in your grandmother's living room on Christmas Day.

The Return Again

two, the journey itself, the annual pilgrimage that confirms you belong to both worlds and fully to neither.

Of course, January comes. The return flight looms. You pack your suitcase again, this time with care packages going the other The plane lands in London, in Toronto, direction—bottles of hot sauce, bags of in New York. Winter greets you with its tamarind balls, your mother's seasoning grey insistence. You return to your flat, blend that you can't buy anywhere else. your routine, your carefully constructed Gifts for the other life, the abroad life, the foreign life. But something has shifted. life you've built that's also legitimately You're carrying Caribbean Christmas yours even if it doesn't always feel that way. inside you now, a warmth that will sustain you through the cold months ahead.

At the airport, you hug everyone too tightly, knowing it might be another year or two Until next October, when the notification before you're back. Your grandmother comes again, and the calculation holds your face in her hands and tells begins anew, and you start planning you to eat good and call more often. Your your way home for Christmas. mother looks at you with eyes that hold both pride and loss. They're proud of what you've achieved abroad, but they miss you.

The leaving never gets easier for anyone.

For the Caribbean diaspora, going home for Christmas isn't just travel. It's an On the flight back, you're quiet. You're act of faith that home still exists, that carrying something that can't fit in you still belong there, that the thread overhead luggage—the renewed connecting you to the islands can understanding that home isn't a place withstand another year of distance. you left behind or a place you arrived And every year, miraculously, it does. at. Home is the tension between the

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The Environmental Cost of Caribbean Christmas

I

By Bavina Sookdeo

slanders often say nothing beats a Caribbean Christmas—and they’re right. But behind the warmth, colour and family traditions lies a growing environmental threat that the region can no longer ignore.

The season brings with it a surge in plastic gift wrap, disposable décor, food waste, and excessive packaging that our islands are increasingly struggling to manage.

According to Nikki Williams— National Advisor to the Caribbean Youth Environment Network Trinidad

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and Tobago (CYEN-TT) and Business Development and Management Professional— the challenge is far more urgent than most people realise. “Christmas in the Caribbean is a beautiful and joyous time, but it is also a season of excess,” she explained. “We see more food, more drinks, more packaging and almost everything we enjoy comes wrapped in or made from plastic.”

Story by:

Bavina Sookdeo

Writer/Media Consultant

Drawing on Trinidad and Tobago’s National Waste Characterization Study, Williams noted that plastics already make up over 18 per cent of municipal waste in a typical month. “When Christmas amplifies our consumption, we see a noticeable spike in singleuse plastics, especially PET bottles and disposable food containers,” she said. But the most overlooked contributor to holiday waste, she added, is food. “Biowaste is our largest national waste fraction at 32.4 percent, and during Christmas that number climbs because of cultural over-catering and last-minute buying.”

Single-use decorations, shiny gift wrap, plastic ribbons and holiday packaging further complicate the issue. “These plastics don’t biodegrade; they break down into microplastics that move through our soil, rivers and eventually the ocean,” Williams said. She pointed to the UN’s assessment of the Maraval River, which found local waterways carrying hundreds of plastic fragments downstream each week. Gift wrap containing glitter, foil or laminated finishes is particularly problematic. “It’s a single morning of beauty with a footprint that lasts decades,” she added.

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The geography of small island developing states magnifies the crisis. Landfill space is limited, coastlines are vulnerable, and waste has nowhere far to go. “SWMCOL (Trinidad and Tobago Solid Waste Management Company) has stated that the Beetham and Guanapo landfills are already past their end-of-life, and Trinidad sends roughly 800,000 tonnes of waste to landfill every year,” Williams explained. “Up to 80 per cent of that could be recycled, but the systems aren’t fully developed. When Christmas

“

By making intentional choices, we transform the holiday from a period of excess into a vibrant and meaningful celebration that honours both community and the Earth we share.”

increases the volume of packaging, it overwhelms an already fragile system.

And because we are surrounded by the ocean, mismanaged waste moves quickly from drains to rivers to our coastlines.”

The UNDP ranks Trinidad and Tobago as the sixth-highest plastic polluter in the Caribbean. “As islands, we have vulnerable coastlines and marine life, so we are in a precarious position,” Williams said.

“Ignoring it only worsens our predicament.”

However, she stressed that the issue is not rooted in a lack of care. “Christmas is culturally a time of abundance, which is wonderful,” she observed. “But abundance 16

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Nikki Williams—National Advisor to the Caribbean Youth Environment Network Trinidad often becomes overconsumption. Our traditions simply haven’t caught up with our environmental realities. The behaviours are cultural, but the impact is structural.”

Williams, known for her work in sustainable behaviour change, believes families can still celebrate joyfully while reducing their environmental footprint. “The Grinch does not have to steal Christmas if we choose to be more intentional and use less plastic,” she said. She encourages households to reconnect with the true meaning of the season—family, spirituality, kindness, and togetherness—rather than unnecessary excess. Simple acts such as giving living presents like plants, offering handmade gifts or baked items, using reusable cups and bottles, choosing compostable or handmade decorations, and coordinating meals to reduce food waste can all make a meaningful

difference. “By making intentional choices, we transform the holiday from a period of excess into a vibrant and meaningful celebration that honours both community and the Earth we share.”

Williams also hopes to address persistent myths that worsen the problem. “Once the garbage truck passes, people believe the waste disappears,” she said. “But Trinidad and Tobago is ranked fifth in the world per capita for mismanaged waste. It doesn’t disappear—it sits in landfills or enters the environment and eventually finds its way back into our food systems.” Another misconception is that plastics biodegrade. “They don’t,” she emphasised. “They fragment, and the environmental and health impacts are much bigger than we realise.”

One of the easiest areas for improvement, she believes, is holiday décor. “There are so many creative and beautiful alternatives— items that are reusable, compostable or even edible. The possibilities are there.”

She also urges households to plan meals based on actual headcount, share or donate excess food, freeze leftovers, buy local ingredients and support composting initiatives. With online shopping on the rise, packaging waste has also increased.

“Without a PET recycling plant, most of that packaging ends up in the landfill,” she said.

“Consumers can consolidate orders, reuse boxes, and support local businesses.”

Across the region, young environmental advocates are helping reshape holiday culture through second-hand gifting initiatives, upcycled décor workshops, community cleanups, and awareness campaigns. CYEN plays a central role in this movement. “We recruit, support, train and mobilise young advocates,” Williams said. “Our work aligns with UNDP recommendations around behaviour change and education.”

She also noted promising local circular economy models such as LinkUP Waste Resource Management, TropiMulch, and the Flying Tree Foundation demonstrate that sustainable solutions can also be economically viable. “There is a win–win situation in going green and being sustainable,” she said.

If she had to offer one message to the region, Williams shared, “Less plastic, less excess, less overconsumption.” She believes small, meaningful choices— handmade cards, natural materials, mindful gifting—can redefine Christmas without diminishing its joy. “Let’s celebrate with intention,” she urged.

“Let’s choose joy without the waste.”

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When Christmas

feels heavy Managing anxiety during the festive season

By Bavina Sookdeo

C

hristmas in the Caribbean is filled with warmth, togetherness and joy, but for many, the season may carry pressure, emotional strain and anxiety. Trinidadian mental health practitioner Amanda Ackbarali, founder of The Opening Lotus, says there’s a reason so many people feel overwhelmed this time of year.

Amanda Ackbarali, founder of The Opening Lotus

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Ackbarali has worked in mental health since 2010 and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Mediation Studies from the University of

the West Indies. A Board-Certified Civil and Family Mediator, she brings extensive experience in counselling, trauma intervention, child protection and genderbased violence interventions. Her career includes service at the Children’s Authority, the Rape Crisis Society and the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, where she trained police officers, hotline workers and frontline support teams. She has also spent years working with international development initiatives, strengthening justice, safety and psychosocial support systems across Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.

With this wealth of experience, she explained why the season affects people so deeply. “Christmas can carry a kind of emotional weight. It’s a time when the holidays feel heavier than the ham, for some,” she said. “We grow up with the idea that Christmas must feel a certain way. The house must shine, the food must be plentiful, the family must get along, and somehow, we must look joyful through all of it. That expectation alone is enough to create anxiety.”

According to Ackbarali, many people enter December already stretched thin.

Holiday rush and sensory overload In the Caribbean, the rush for ham, curtains, and last-minute groceries may feel festive to some, but for others, it’s exhausting.

“December is sensory overload” Ackbarali

reiterated. “You leave home to pick up cloves and olives and suddenly you’re in standstill traffic with parang blasting from every direction…while some people love it all, calling it the ‘Christmas Fever’, for others the brain doesn’t get a moment to rest.” That constant overstimulation, she noted, pushes some people into survival mode. “Irritability rises and small inconveniences start to feel like personal attacks. It’s not just stress, it’s a cognitive overload.”

“

“Christmas can carry a kind of emotional weight.

It’s a time when the holidays feel heavier than the ham, for some,”

Safety concerns Safety anxiety also plays a major role in how people move during the holidays. The therapist pointed out that when people feel unsafe running errands, walking to their car, or shopping after dark, anxiety becomes part of every decision. “Even when nothing happens, the body is spending energy preparing for danger, which is exhausting” Ackbarali pointed out. “In a way the body remains ‘switched on’ which can affect sleep and interactions with others.”

For people with anxiety, Christmas hits even harder Ackbarali explained that for someone who already struggles with anxiety, Christmas can feel like a spotlight on

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“

The first step is honesty with yourself: decide what you can realistically afford.

Then practice openness with others, “I’m keeping things simple this year”... Most people tend to appreciate thoughtfulness more than extravagance.”

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every vulnerability. “A person may appear to others to be “overreacting” but their baseline anxiety is already elevated” she said. “The season simply amplifies fears and tensions that they work hard to manage all year. It’s like plugging Christmas lights into a socket that’s already overloaded.”

Social pressures and expectations In a culture known for lively gatherings, Christmas gatherings can feel obligatory. But Ackbarali urges self-kindness: “Give yourself permission to pace your energy… Choose the events that feel meaningful. Not all events are mandatory.”

Short stays at events, checking in with one familiar face, or stepping outside for a breath of fresh air can help prevent overwhelm.

Financial pressure and the myth of abundance Questioned on how to deal with financial pressure, the therapist insisted, “The first step is honesty with yourself: decide what you can realistically afford. Then practice openness with others, “I’m keeping things simple this year”, “My pockets are small this season.”

Most people tend to appreciate thoughtfulness more than extravagance.” She suggests a handwritten note, a homemade dessert, or an act of service that can carry deep meaning without creating debts in January.

When Christmas magnifies grief While Christmas highlights joy, it also magnifies absence for many who deal with grief. “An empty chair at the table, an empty nest or that person to share special traditions with…all of it can trigger grief” Ackbarali explained. She recommended creating a small personal ritual, lighting a candle, saying a prayer, or pausing with a favourite photo. Reaching out to someone, even briefly, can ease the heaviness.

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Simple tools for highstress moments

Digital overload and comparison culture

But what should someone do when the crowd gets too loud or the to-do list is too long? Ackbarali suggested grounding techniques: “Slow your breath, sip water, stretch your shoulders, or step outside away for 60 seconds of quiet.” She also urged individuals to use the 3-3-3 rule: name three things you see, three sounds you hear, and three sensations in your body. “These tiny resets help your nervous system settle by grounding you again” she noted. And if the season still feels heavy, whisper to yourself lovingly: ‘I can only do one thing at a time.’ It’s amazing how much pressure that releases.

Ackbarali noted that social media often intensifies holiday stress, especially in December, when people are bombarded with images of perfect décor, gifts, vacations and celebration. She explained that social media platforms are designed to showcase “the brightest, most polished versions of other people’s lives,” which can make individuals feel as though their own Christmas is inadequate. She encouraged people to limit exposure, curate their feeds and alerts through adjusted settings and put their phones down during stressful moments, reminding them that most posts reflect highlights— not anyone’s full emotional reality.

Helping children cope with holiday stress As for how to help children since they feel adults’ stress long before the big day arrives, Ackbarali advised helping children to reset by creating small pockets of calm – a morning walk, quiet holiday music in the background instead of constant noise, reading time beneath the twinkling lights, shared chores done without pressure. “In the middle of the season’s bustle, it’s the small moments of calm and grounding that help children feel safe and steady” she pointed out.

Knowing when to seek help Ackbarali stressed that seeking help is an act of strength, not defeat. She urged, “If anxiety starts interfering with daily life… then it’s time to reach out. Getting help isn’t weakness; it’s choosing not to sit alone with tangled Christmas lights when someone can help you find the ends… and that’s a gift you deserve this season.”

Story by:

Bavina Sookdeo

Writer/Media Consultant

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Why Sorrel Defines Christmas in Barbados

T

he deep crimson liquid catches the light like liquid rubies, its surface crowned with a constellation of cloves. Before the first carol is sung, before the ham is glazed, before children wake to presents beneath coconut palms, there is sorrel. In Barbados, Christmas doesn't merely arrive on December 25th—it announces itself weeks earlier in the ritual of steeping the flower that transforms the season.

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Walk through any Bajan household in early December and you'll find it: massive glass jars sitting on kitchen counters, their contents darkening daily as dried sorrel sepals release their tart essence into rum-laced water. This isn't simply a beverage. It's an inheritance, a calendar, a communion with seasons past and generations departed.

The Flower That Marks Time Sorrel, harvested from the Hibiscus sabdariffa plant, blooms just as the year begins its gentle decline toward closure. The timing is no accident of nature—it's a perfect synchronicity that Bajans have woven into the fabric of their Christmas tradition. When the sorrel is ready, Christmas is coming.

The two have become inseparable.

This relationship between flower and festival runs deeper than mere tradition. It speaks to the Caribbean's genius for creating culture from available resources, for taking what the land provides and transforming it into ritual. The British brought their Christmas, but Barbados made it her own, and sorrel became the drink that sealed that transformation.

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The Alchemy of Waiting Making sorrel is an exercise in patience, a quality that stands in stark contrast to the frenetic energy of modern holiday preparation. There are no shortcuts. The dried red calyxes must steep for days, sometimes a week or more, drawing out their astringent tang.

Ginger, cinnamon, cloves—each spice contributes its voice to the symphony.

Some recipes call for orange peel, others for a splash of Angostura bitters. And then there's the rum, the final blessing that both preserves and elevates.

But the heart of the process is the waiting. Each day, the jar grows darker, the flavor more complex. Each day, Christmas draws closer. The sorrel becomes a physical marker of time passing, a tangible countdown more meaningful than any calendar.

More Than Nostalgia But sorrel is more than nostalgia bottled. It represents something vital about how Caribbean people have maintained identity across displacement and diaspora. When Barbadians settled in Brooklyn, in London, in Toronto, they brought sorrel with them. Today, dried sorrel can be found in Caribbean shops across the world, allowing those far from home to perform the same December ritual, to steep their own Christmas memories.

This global reach speaks to sorrel's power as a cultural anchor. A Bajan living through London's grey winter can 26

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stand in her kitchen, watching those familiar red petals darken the water, and feel connected to everyone back home doing the same thing. Distance collapses.

Time folds. The diaspora communes.

The Social Currency of Sorrel In Barbados, the quality of one's sorrel carries social weight. Recipe secrets are guarded, debated, refined. Everyone claims their grandmother made it best.

The perfect balance—tart but not too tart, spiced but not overwhelming, strong but smooth—becomes a point of pride. To be known for good sorrel is to be known as someone who understands tradition, who respects it enough to do it properly.

Visit a Bajan home during the Christmas season and sorrel will be offered almost before you've sat down. Refusing is nearly unthinkable. Accepting is participating in something larger than hospitality—it's acknowledging shared

culture, shared memory, shared identity.

Each glass poured is a small ceremony, a recognition that Christmas in Barbados is defined not by snow or sleigh bells but by this ancient drink that tastes of sunshine and spice and home.

The Future Steeping As Barbados changes, as young people adopt global influences, as Christmas becomes increasingly commercialized, sorrel remains. New recipes emerge— sorrel cocktails at hotel bars, sorrelinfused desserts at upscale restaurants.

But the core tradition endures. Jars still sit on counters. Families still gather around the first tasting. The flower still marks the season.

Perhaps this is sorrel's greatest gift: its ability to anchor while allowing evolution. It's simultaneously ancient and contemporary, traditional and adaptable. It belongs to grandmothers

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and grandchildren alike, each finding their own relationship with the drink while honoring those who came before.

When the last glass of sorrel is poured on Boxing Day, when the jars are washed and put away until next December, something bittersweet settles over Bajan households. Christmas is ending.

But already, somewhere, the hibiscus is preparing its next bloom, promising

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that the season will come again, that sorrel will once more define Christmas in Barbados, that the tradition will continue, one steeped generation at a time.

In Barbados, you don't just celebrate Christmas—you drink it. And it tastes like sorrel!

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The Great Christmas Tree Dilemma:

Artificial or Alive?

Each holiday season, as Christmas approaches on of the most important questions that families face is: Should we get a live tree, or should we be economical and go for an artificial tree this year?

It’s a dilemma that I can identify, somehow the scent of pine permeating the air makes Christmas real but then again the expense of purchasing a live tree lasting for only a short time makes you ask, does this make sense. Let’s explore the pros and cons of the tree dilemma, From my recollection I would say that live trees only became a ‘thing’ around the 80s in Barbados. Over the years live Christmas trees have become a part of the season—fresh, fragrant, and full of sentiment. There is something almost magical about selecting a tree, bringing it home, and filling the house with that distinctive pine scent. The ritual is as cherished as the holiday itself. In some households, there is a designated decorator or the family may get together to make it a special occasion.

If you are one to think of the environment then live trees are for you. They are biodegradable and

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renewable it is the authentic thing, no artificial creation can quite match the glow of lights against real branches.

But live trees come with very real drawbacks.

They dry out quickly especially since we have an extremely high humidity, pose fire hazards if not properly watered, and can drop needles

everywhere.

For busy households, they require more

maintenance than some are prepared for during an already demanding season.

Artificial trees have always been popular mainly because the cost is easier on the pockets of

budget conscious households who want to enjoy the spirit and brightness of Christmas without paying too much. The versions of artificial trees have become more realistic, are sturdier, and available in every imaginable size, colour, and shape. For families with allergies, pets, or limited time, the convenience is undeniable: assemble, decorate, enjoy—no watering, shedding, or mess.

A plus with having an artificial trees is that they are reusable, making them a long-term financial investment. And for those who love to decorate early—and leave the tree up well into January—they’re the practical choice.

Now if you are an environmentalist artificial trees are a no no, they are typically made from plastic and metal, and while longlasting, they’re not biodegradable.

Consider this when you are mulling over artificial vs live. The heart of the dilemma is not just the tree itself, but the meaning we attach to it. For some, Christmas feels incomplete without a freshcut spruce standing proudly in the living room. For others, the holiday is stressful enough, and an artificial tree offers a welcome sense of ease.

So there’s no right choice, for me its a live tree but I may add an artificial one this year for balance. Whether you choose a live tree or an artificial tree what truly matters is the joy it brings once the lights are glowing and the decorations are hung.

In the end, Christmas magic doesn’t come from the branches—it comes from the memories made around them.

Six

Traditional Meals on

Christmas Day

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1

Baked Ham -

Glazed with a mix of brown sugar, mustard, and pineapple juice for a sweet and savory flavor. Add clove for additional flavour

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2 Macaroni Pie -

A baked dish with ingredients which include macaroni, cheese, onions, sweet peppers milk or the sauce some flour to hold all the ingredients together.

Option to add mayonnaise, honey mustard or ketchup

3 Sweet Potato Pie -

A side dish made from mashed sweet potatoes, sugar, pineapple and cinnamon, cherries are placed on top for decorative purposes and the pie is baked until there is a golden crust.

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4 Green Peas and Rice -

A must have for the season. Peas are locally grown and are prevalent at this time of the and are sold at the market or along the street. Peas are cooked and flavoured before adding rice, careful with the amount of water as rice should be dry and grains cooked but not soggy.

5

Flying Fish -

used to be a staple but flying fish is a rarity and is very expensive so not many, if any house holds would have flying fish this year.

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6

Pork -

dont forget pork. Cuts of this meat can be roasted or spare ribs can be baked or barbecued

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CHRIST M A S 2 0 2 5 Island Elegance Meets Timeless Luxury

Barbados

A Barbadian (Bajan) Shopping Tradition

F

or almost five decades, The Royal Shop has stood at the heart of Barbados’ holiday shopping season—an iconic shopping destination where shoppers discover world-class craftsmanship and Caribbean elegance under one roof. This Christmas, we invite you to discover gifts that transcend the moment—heirlooms that capture the joy of Caribbean living and the precision of Swiss craftsmanship.

Discover a holiday collection designed to surprise and delight. From the unmatched Swiss craftsmanship of Longines, Raymond Weil, Tissot, and Movado to the stylish everyday favourites from Citizen, Guess, Fossil, and G-Shock, there’s something for every personality, every moment, and every budget.

And of course, no gift feels more authentically Caribbean than our iconic West Indian bangles—timeless pieces that celebrate our roots, our stories, and the beauty of our heritage passed from one generation to the next.

The Royal Shop Barbados-Your Treasure Trove for Fine Jewellery and Timepieces.

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#32 Broad Street, Bridgetown - Tel: (246) 429-7072 The Cruise Terminal, Bridgetown - Tel: (246) 431-0296 IG @theroyalshopbarbados | WhatsApp 1-246-231-4266

Our Jewellery and Timepiece Collections Discover a world of sparkle, style, and timeless beauty. Our hand-selected collection brings together the finest precious metals, radiant gemstones, and expertly crafted timepieces, each one chosen to help you celebrate life’s most meaningful moments with confidence, joy, and a touch of everyday luxury.

Whether you’re searching for the perfect engagement ring, a memorable holiday gift, or a piece that simply makes you feel extraordinary, you’ll find something truly special in every showcase.

Our Collections Swiss Timepieces Designer Jewellery Diamond & Semi-Precious Jewellery Wedding Bands & Engagement Rings Gold & Silver Jewellery Fashion Jewellery & Watches

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3601185 BOLD QUEST CHRONOGRAPH

3601301 BOLD EVOLUTION 2.0

3601198| BOLD QUEST CHRONOGRAPH

3601218 BOLD EVOLUTION 2.0

3601225 BOLD EVOLUTION 2.0

0607202 MUSEUM CLASSIC

0607716 MODA

0607626 MUSEUM CLASSIC

0608072 0608058 MUSEUM BANGLE MUSEUM BANGLE

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#32 Broad Street, Bridgetown - Tel: (246) 429-7072 The Cruise Terminal, Bridgetown - Tel: (246) 431-0296 IG @theroyalshopbarbados | WhatsApp 1-246-231-4266

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LUXURY COLLECTION

LUXURY COLLECTION

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920-84-01 SS 925 LARIMAR BANGLE

1285-85-01 SS 925 LARIMAR NECKALCE

1180-31-01A SS 925 GR OPAL STARFISH PENDANT

1262-11-01 SS 925 SUNRISE PENDANT

1013-31-01 SS OPAL TURTLE PENDANT (L)

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GM700G

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GA100BW

GA-100GGB 70

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GA700CY

BA110X

GBM2100A-2B

GD010-1

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Bangles WEST INDIAN

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West Indian Bangles A CARIBBEAN HERITAGE More than jewelry, West Indian bangles are a cherished tradition passed from generation to generation. These distinctive bracelets, with their hand-carved patterns and polished finishes, represent the artistry and cultural richness of the Caribbean.

Royal Shop offers an extensive collection in various styles and karat weights—from delicate single bangles to bold stacked sets, each piece handcrafted to perfection.

A bangle is not just an accessory—it's a connection to heritage, a symbol of strength, and a celebration of Caribbean beauty.

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Items displayed are available while stocks last. The contents of this catalogue are the property of the Royal shop and any duplication or other use without permission is illegal.

#32 Broad Street, Bridgetown - Tel: (246) 429-7072 The Cruise Terminal, Bridgetown - Tel: (246) 431-0296 IG @theroyalshopbarbados | WhatsApp 1-246-231-4266

THE ROYAL SHOP

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