Share your gifts

A Jamaican Christmas has always been more than a date on the calendar. Long before the glitter of imported décor and the rush of modern commerce, Christmas in Jamaica was anchored in service, reflection, and gratitude values that remain deeply relevant today.

Historically, the season was marked by community-centred traditions. Jonkonnu (or Junkanoo), one of Jamaica’s oldest Christmas customs, filled streets with music, masquerade, and storytelling. It was not only a celebration, but an expression and assertion of humanity, creativity, and shared joy.

Grand Market, still alive in many towns, was another ritual of service and provision: vendors stayed up through the night so families could prepare meals, exchange small gifts, and ensure that no home felt empty on Christmas morning. Churches opened their doors for watch night services and Christmas Day worship, emphasising prayer, thanksgiving, and care for neighbours as central to the season.

RELATIONAL

At its heart, the Jamaican Christmas reminded us that giving was not transactional; it was relational. It is when we give of ourselves that we truly give. It is when we live for others that we truly live. These ideas are not modern slogans; they are embedded in how communities function. Neighbours shared food, looked in on the elderly, and ensured children experienced joy, even when resources were limited.

Mindfulness, though not always named as such, was practised intuitively. The quiet of early Christmas morning, the pause before prayer, and the shared meal were all moments of intentional presence. “A man is his thoughts,” the old wisdom says, because thoughts become action. When we sit, even for a few minutes, in silence, closing our eyes and contemplating, we enter the world of the great thinker: ourselves. From that stillness, spirited thoughts can manifest as divine action: kindness, service, generosity.

Gratitude was, and remains, the foundation. Give thanks for the day. Give thanks for family and friends. Give thanks for health and strength. Give thanks for breath, for life itself. Give thanks for things big and small, for the simple joy of waking up.

This Christmas, to “share your gifts” does not require an abundance of things. It requires awareness, intention, and heart. Service, mindfulness, and gratitude are timeless Jamaican traditions. When we practice them, we honour our past and shape a more compassionate future one thoughtful act at a time.

Contributed by Dr Lorenzo Gordon, a diabetologist, internal medicine consultant, biochemist, and a history and heritage enthusiast. Send feedback to inspiring876@gmail.com