The pandemic forced us all to reassess our lives and set new priorities. We had to change and reinvent many relationships, some of which we are still learning to appreciate. Through problem-ridden Zoom calls, terse text messages, and social media posts, we formed bonds with friends, family and even strangers that were simply not possible before.
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The holiday season is a time for celebration and joy in Jamaica. Our kindness knows no bounds and we share the spirit of goodwill widely. Though with good intent, our holiday activities often negatively impact the environment. We eat more, use more and waste a great deal. Even our gift-giving has bad side effects.
Most of an entire generation has never seen Junkanoo. They do not know the lyrics to Christmas a come or the joy of walking Grand Market all night. We seem to be losing ourselves in this globalized and monoculture world. Indeed, our Christmas season has become as commercial as elsewhere and less Jamaican.
We will remember 2022 for many things – shock, fear, tears, laughter, hopelessness, and Covid-19. There is never a dull moment in sweet, sweet Jamaica and the year of our 60th independence anniversary was no different.
The holiday season is here again, and in Jamaica it is undeniably the happiest time of the year. We go over the top for celebrations and Christmas is no exception. Tis’ the season for sorrel, freshly painted houses, big family gatherings, lavish dinners and lighted decorations.
Christmas is a time for family, friends, and loved ones to come together to celebrate. For many, the holiday season is filled with joy, laughter, and love. But it can also be a difficult time for some. Christmas heightens the stresses of our everyday life.
This year brought the fullest in-person gatherings since Covid-19 locked us down in 2019. Isolation and loneliness from curfews, and forced social distancing spawned a need for social engagement that many want to fill. Places are getting crowded, we notice, even as promoters deliver more events and new restaurants are sprouting everywhere.
Afrobeat is now one of the most popular and well-known forms of African music, and it is displacing Dancehall on charts in recent years.
Jamaicans abroad get love and acceptance from people all over the world. Our exuberance and patriotism are hard to ignore. The soft power we proudly exert with our culture drives people’s curiosity and interest in our country, attracting more than four million tourists annually.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month gives us a chance to look at our situation in Jamaica. Breast Cancers is the most diagnosed form of cancer among women here. Jamaica also leads the Caribbean in breast cancer incidence.