RAPHAEL MITCHELL is an old-timer who claims he is not fussy about Christmas. At least, not in any major way.

At age 62, he drives around the Corporate Area in his taxicab daily, trying to earn his keep. While thousands of Jamaicans are shopping for luxury gifts, Mitchell has a simple Christmas list: a whole chicken and a pack of crackers.

Nothing extravagant

Mitchell is among many Jamaicans who will not be indulging in the traditional Christmas extravagance. He will not be baking a cake, nor will he be buying one. He has no interest in rice and peas, roast beef, curried goat, mannish water, duck and ham.

He will not be playing any Christmas carols in his house; not painting his walls; no Christmas lights. Nothing!

"Mi nuh want none o' dem thing deh. All mi want is mi chicken; one whole o' chicken and I want a pack of crackers to eat it wid. I going eat until I am full, den a wash it down wid some good punch," Mitchell says.

As he drives by the inner-city community of Arnett Gardens, he detects an absence of Christmas spirit. The usual loud music and the frenetic move to install Christmas lights and decorations are absent.

The worsening world economic climate had seemingly hit home. But money does not appear to be the reason he is not excited about the season.

Christmas, it is said, is for families. Mitchell lives alone and he cannot cook. The father of two girls says he and his wife broke up some years ago. He has lived by himself ever since. Whenever it's time for a meal, he says he either purchases it at a restaurant or whips up quick cuisine from canned mackerel or salt fish.

Given his culinary limitations, Mitchell is aware that preparing his whole chicken could be as difficult as cooking an old hen with rusty nails. However, should that dream of roasting his own whole chicken not materialise, Mitchell's Plan B is to head to Hellshire, St Catherine, and get himself a roasted fish. A big one too.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com