JAMAICA DIASPORA BRING TIDINGS OF JOY

The celebration of Christmas derived from both the roman and pagan cultures. Romans held two events in December; a 2-week festival (Saturnalia) honoring their god of agriculture, Saturn, and a one-day (25th) event, celebrating Mirtha, their sun god.

With December hosting the darkest day of the year, the Pagans lit bonfires to keep the darkness away. Unable to curb the pagan festivities and not know Jesus' birthday, Christians, therefore, adopted the 25th as Christ's birthday.

Currently, December 25th is celebrated by Christians across the globe. However, Jamaicans developed their ways of delivering the joys of Christmas. The season of Christmas also holds a special place in the hearts of Jamaicans who live outside of Jamaica, the Jamaica Diaspora. As Christmas rolls around, it was great to hear Diaspora individuals speak specifically about what they missed about Christmas while they grew up in Jamaica. It's incredible how the Christmas experiences of the various participants

differ. The responses are based on an expectation that all participants' experiences that Christmas lasted for the entire month of December. All parishes have their way of celebrating Christmas.

The Christmas season is, at times, a personal experience, other times an expression of love with family and friends, but, importantly, a collaborative community…