Evy Royal got drunk on Red Label Wine

Like many of the humorous childhood tales he shares online, Evert 'Evy Royal' Johnson's core memory of Christmas 2009 is guaranteed to leave anyone in stitches.

Though he has countless Christmas festive stories, none compare to the Christmas where he first tasted teenage freedom. But he also tasted way too much Red Label Wine and learnt its true power the hard way. On Christmas Eve, all major towns and cities come alive. Vending rules are relaxed, sound systems take centrestage, and vendors seize the chance for last-minute sales from shoppers. But for many Jamaican children, this day means something entirely different: it was a highly anticipated day to put on their favourite outfit and soak up all the excitement in and around town.

Now 28, the actor, comedian and content creator was a teenager in Contrivance, Manchester, and he clearly remembers looking forward to grand market in Christiana.

"The Christmas I will never forget? Oh God man, that 2009 Christmas when mommy and daddy just make you enjoy yourself for the first time, be a man. And them send you out at grand market for the first time. But we take taxi go all bout," he said.

To mark his 'official teenage debut', Evy Royal recalled stepping out in his first pair of Clarks, a prize possession he received from his father.

"Mi step out in a brown Clarks. Hey I will never forget that Clarks too. It was my first pair. Touch out well clean under a pair of big pants because dem time deh a big pants ah wear. My father bought me at the end of the term because mi was ah bwoy that mash up shoes often, because mi kick all rock stone," he said, struggling through his laughter to finish the sentence.

The brown Clarks however did not have the same fate as his previous footwear; it lived up to Jamaican praise and stood the test of Evy Royal's Feet.

"At that mi understand that Clark's strong enuh. Ah whole heap a stone mi kick and mi couldn't mash it up," he said, still laughing as journeyed down memory lane.

But his laughter got even stronger as he recalled the standout moment of his grand market adventure - his first outings with no curfew and no parental supervision, just the guidance of an older cousin. That's when he bought himself a bottle of Red Label Wine. Unfortunately, it was more than the young Evy Royal could handle. It was not the spotlight he hoped for, but the wine certainly made Evy Royal the talk of town.

"Mi say mi kin over inna the middle of the road. Dem affi lift me up and bring me home. Mi cousin dem affi bring me home man," he recalled.

Unfortunately, according to Evy Royal, the spirit of grand market has died down, and, when coupled with his real taste of maturity, there will be no drunken night on the town this year. Instead, he is planning a chill night with family.

"I will stay inside, eat Christmas cake, drink sorrel and prepare for Christmas dinner, my favourite time of the year," he said.

Not deterred by Hurricane Melissa, Evy Royal's family has been preparing for family dinner months in advance, and for him, the real excitement is watching his favourite meal 'grow' in the yard.

"Watch ya nuh, my family buy a goat, a ram goat, and nuff problem the goat ah give a mi yard. Him nuh stop buck buck. Mi a watch him, ye man him must get curry," he said.

After pausing to laugh for what felt like the hundredth time, Evy Royal admitted that no Christmas will compare to that one in 2009'. But even with this core memory, he said the true meaning of Christmas has always been about family, friends and the food that brings them together.