Why Not Celebrate?

So this time of the year is my absolute favourite as I love the Christmas season. The usual stressors will be there and perhaps some new ones but I just can’t help being extremely happy. Why am I happy one may wonder so I’ll list them below:

1. I celebrate the birth of Christ and what it means for Christianity.
2. I love seeing the Christmas decorations in public places, along the streets, houses, etc. And I love decorating my own space with my Christmas accessories.
3. The food. Yes I just love Christmas Day and the meals that are prepared. I live in Jamaica so the traditional menu may include gungo peas and rice, curried goat, roast beef, roast pork, chicken, vegetable and potato salads, ham, sorrel drink (or sorrel wine if you love alcohol), egg nog, Christmas cake (a must have), ham, etc.
4. Family, love or hate them, it’s a good time to get together with them to celebrate the season and to just catch up on what’s new.
5. Happy people, yes there are lots more happy faces in the streets and most people all around just appear to be joyful.
6. Christmas carols, I just love them. See some of my favourites below:
https://youtu.be/VDmIddF7DfQ
https://youtu.be/wKhRnZZ0cJI
https://youtu.be/-aU_B4uBKSw
https://youtu.be/XvuA98-pMds
https://youtu.be/5uhzR_7z8ho
7. The very cool weather (I’m in Jamaica so it’s not cold). Plus I can give my air conditioning unit a vacation and enjoy lower energy cost.
8.Giving and receiving of gifts and additional donations to charity organizations (I can’t miss the Salvation Army because they are everywhere during Christmas).
9. Lots of celebrations and parties.See some below:
-“Burna Boy confirmed to perform in Jamaica | Entertainment | Jamaica Star” http://jamaica-star.com/article/entertainment/20221118/burna-boy-confirmed-perform-jamaica
-“Soca Forever Tickets, Fri, Dec 16, 2022 at 5:00 PM | Eventbrite” https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soca-forever-tickets-470048316167
-“Ashanti, Ja Rule for Mega YUSH show – Jamaica Observer” https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/ashanti-ja-rule-for-mega-yush-show/amp/
-“Kingston, Jamaica Christmas Party Events | Eventbrite” https://www.eventbrite.com/d/jamaica–kingston/christmas-party/
10. Time to start planning for the new year and things to do and achieve.
11. Christmas movies on Lifetime, Hallmark and Netflix.
12. Giving thanks to see another Christmas season.
13. Reflecting on the past and present and the wonderful experiences.

14. Also celebrating the lives of those who are no longer with us but will forever will be held dearly in our memories of past holidays.

It may not be the Christmas Season that makes you happy, but find your sources of happiness and hope in what I consider to be a stressful world. After all happiness increases your psychological and physiological health.

Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers and those around the world who celebrate.

© 2022, Stacy-Ann Campbell. All rights reserved.