Summer 2019 will be unforgettable if only for one reason: the heat! Many Jamaicans will attest that it was indeed a hot one. Unbearable days and nights of sweating, the simplest task made miserable by a persistent blanket of humidity.
Just one day after the official start of summer 2019, Jamaica recorded its hottest day in twenty-four years! Of course, the heat, credited to climate change, precipitated an extended dry period which caused a lack of water which further compounded the intolerably hot situation for many Jamaicans.
Fast forward a few weeks and we are now entering what is supposed to be the cooler months. The fact is that in the weeks since summer 2019 ended, Jamaica has experienced an increase in rainfall, which has somewhat aided in ‘cooling things down’. What many are looking forward to though, is the cool, cool breeze of Christmas 2019.
Admittedly, Christmas breeze in the age of climate change, particularly in the Caribbean region is not what is used to be say twenty years ago. A quick check on the history of Caribbean weather shows that the average temperatures during the November to December period is usually 75°F. In 2018, however temperatures averaged 82°F. Wonder what Christmas 2019 will bring?Regardless of the temperature though, Christmas 2019, as with all other previous Christmases, will definitely bring the customary goodwill and good cheer to both the naughty and the nice. Most families will take the opportunity to spend quality time together reminiscing on Christmases past and making new memories for Christmases to come; friends, neighbours, co-workers and colleagues will gather for the customary Christmas parties, camaraderie and food.
Of course, Christmas would be nothing without gift giving. Pixie parties at the office will see secret Santas’ gifting items from small household appliances to electronic gadgets, jewellery and other personalized presents. Mommies and Daddies, Grandmas and Grandpas and Uncles and Aunties should also get ready because the little people in their lives look forward to this time of year more than anyone else.
There is a school of thought that Christmas is for kids, and for many children, the number of gifts they will receive certainly confirms this. After all, the bigger the family, the more the gifts.
But what is the real significance of Christmas? From a biblical perspective, Christmas speaks to the birth of Jesus Christ, the saviour of the world. The name ‘Christmas’ comes from the Mass of Christ. A Mass service; sometimes called Communion or Eucharist is where Christians remember that Jesus died for us and then came back to life.
Despite the many cries of Christmas being a pagan holiday, many maintain that it is the single most ‘feel good’ season of the year. Whether it’s the lights, the caring and sharing or the general feeling of merriment, the fact is that Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year.
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Summer 2019 will be unforgettable if only for one reason: the heat! Many Jamaicans will attest that it was indeed a hot one. Unbearable days and nights of sweating, the simplest task made miserable by a persistent blanket of humidity.
Just one day after the official start of summer 2019, Jamaica recorded its hottest day in twenty-four years! Of course, the heat, credited to climate change, precipitated an extended dry period which caused a lack of water which further compounded the intolerably hot situation for many Jamaicans.
Fast forward a few weeks and we are now entering what is supposed to be the cooler months. The fact is that in the weeks since summer 2019 ended, Jamaica has experienced an increase in rainfall, which has somewhat aided in ‘cooling things down’. What many are looking forward to though, is the cool, cool breeze of Christmas 2019.
Admittedly, Christmas breeze in the age of climate change, particularly in the Caribbean region is not what is used to be say twenty years ago. A quick check on the history of Caribbean weather shows that the average temperatures during the November to December period is usually 75°F. In 2018, however temperatures averaged 82°F. Wonder what Christmas 2019 will bring?Regardless of the temperature though, Christmas 2019, as with all other previous Christmases, will definitely bring the customary goodwill and good cheer to both the naughty and the nice. Most families will take the opportunity to spend quality time together reminiscing on Christmases past and making new memories for Christmases to come; friends, neighbours, co-workers and colleagues will gather for the customary Christmas parties, camaraderie and food.
Of course, Christmas would be nothing without gift giving. Pixie parties at the office will see secret Santas’ gifting items from small household appliances to electronic gadgets, jewellery and other personalized presents. Mommies and Daddies, Grandmas and Grandpas and Uncles and Aunties should also get ready because the little people in their lives look forward to this time of year more than anyone else.
There is a school of thought that Christmas is for kids, and for many children, the number of gifts they will receive certainly confirms this. After all, the bigger the family, the more the gifts.
But what is the real significance of Christmas? From a biblical perspective, Christmas speaks to the birth of Jesus Christ, the saviour of the world. The name ‘Christmas’ comes from the Mass of Christ. A Mass service; sometimes called Communion or Eucharist is where Christians remember that Jesus died for us and then came back to life.
Despite the many cries of Christmas being a pagan holiday, many maintain that it is the single most ‘feel good’ season of the year. Whether it’s the lights, the caring and sharing or the general feeling of merriment, the fact is that Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year.
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