What “Festival” means
In Jamaican food, a festival is a slightly sweet fried dumpling, made with cornmeal and shaped into a long finger. It's golden and crisp outside and soft inside.
Examples
Mi waan nyam some fry fish an festival!
I want to eat some fried fish and festival!
Fry fish an festival reach di table!
Fried fish and festival have reached the table!
How to use it
An everyday food word. Festival is the standard side at jerk stops and fish spots.
Cultural context
Festival is a fairly young classic, popularised around Hellshire Beach near Kingston in the second half of the 20th century. The name is said to come from how eating one feels like a festival.