Debbie Bissoon honours late grandma during Christmas

Debbie Bissoon is a staple in the entertainment industry, known for her dynamic style as an MC, and a television and radio host. But for Bissoon, she is a stickler for the Christmas season, as it is synonymous with a time dedicated to family interaction, to spread happiness and to be kind to each other.

Her memory for The Christmas I'll Never Forget is one that moved her to tears, as it reminded her of the time spent with her grandmother, Bernice Bissoon, who passed away 10 years ago.

"My father is a mobile operator at Water Commission and he was a small farmer. There's a time where we would see the goats getting ready to be butchered and us as kids being fascinated with him doing that. My family is a big one, and we get everyone together. My grandmother was always at these celebrations, she made all the roti 'cause she was Indian. It was such a simple time," she said.

Those memories of her grandmother, she said, made celebrating Christmas holidays more worthwhile. Bissoon said although this year's celebration may be affected by COVID-19, the lessons remain the same; to be family-centred and share with others. She will be celebrating her grandmother's birthday on December 16. She would have been 91 this year.

"It's absolutely my favourite time of the year, it's just that whole vibe when it turns December 1. Probably this year, everybody's energy just wrap up in COVID-19 thing. But I realise that when it touch December 1, the energy in the atmosphere just change, it just feel lighter and it feels less tense. And that's one of the reasons I love it, everything feels celebratory and it feels good," Bissoon said.

She reflected how the Yuletide season spent with her family has taught her to give selflessly, as her father did, often sharing his big pot of soup with their community in Clarendon. It is a tradition that she will pass to her son, Josiah Syre.

"That family get-together vibe, it's just a time to reconnect with members of the family to catch up or get closer for the new year. I love that and I will give that to my son," she said.

She is encouraging Jamaicans to share more this season, and not to be disheartened by the pandemic.

"I understand the physical restrictions that we are advocating for to curb the spread, but if you can in some way at all to reach out and do something good for someone this Christmas, you'll never know where it will go," she said.