Lisa Hyper looking forward to a ‘Gaza Christmas’

As the Christmas countdown continues, dancehall artiste Lisa Hyper anticipates this to be "her best Christmas" as she will be spending it with her 'Gaza family'.

"Knowing that Adidja [Vybz Kartel] is home [and] I haven't seen him for 13 years, my family and his family is gonna get together and we're gonna spend that quality time together. So I think that there's gonna be a slight change there with that family reunion," the singer told THE STAR. She stressed that for her, the Yuletide season is one of togetherness and gratitude.

"It's strictly family; [being] joyful, happiness, grateful because it's the end addi year suh wi have to be thankful that we actually get to live to see this time addi year...It's a family thing fa me and it's just about joy, positivity and being grateful definitely," said Hyper.

Traversing between Stony Hill, St Andrew, and Waterford, Portmore, St Catherine, the artiste said growing up in both communities allowed her to explore colourful yet reserved Christmas experiences.

"In Waterford, it was more vibe, more [about] family...also, the neighbourhood is a [family-like] neighbourhood weh everybody get together. [But] in Stony Hill, it's more secluded, more quiet and it's not that vibesy. Suh the [difference] was the vibe," she stated with a chuckle.

However, as a celebrity, she detailed what a 'regular' Christmas Day looks like.

"It's nothing fussy because even though I have the name 'Lisa Hyper,' I'm not a fussy person. Daddy is definitely gonna be doing the cooking, I'll be doing the cleaning...and then I'd have to go to Waterford to look for my aunts and cousins suh it's gonna be cool," she shared, adding that Christmas cake baking and sorrel making are traditions she still observes. Ham and sorrel are must-have annual Christmas meals.

With the desire to be in her homeland for her Christmas holidays, the artiste recalled how it felt when her job as an entertainer demanded her to be overseas during Christmas.

"It has happened over and over but thank God that won't be happening this year. But I adapt very quickly and even though it can be emotional, I still learn how to hold my composure and get di work done regardless, because this is what I do and sacrifice comes wid it. Suh yuh affi prepare to make those sacrifices when the time come," Lisa Hyper expressed. She added that it's "very important" to celebrate Christmas in Jamaica.

"Even though I don't get to celebrate it with all my family members, just being here is just a different feeling to me. I love to travel, but to live somewhere else apart from Jamaica, I don't think I can do it, mi wi get homesick. I think it's the energy, the atmosphere, everything. It's just different when yuh get back home suh dat just really really mean something to me to spend my Christmas in Jamaica," she said.

She shared that one of her favourite Christmas memories was when "Vybz [Kartel] got established".

"Suh yuh know seh di community hot and full a vibes suh dat was one a mi favourite - when mi get fi go Waterford and get fi experience dah joy and dah celebration deh within the community," Lisa Hyper shared, while promising fans a possible Christmas collaboration with a member from the Gaza team.

The artiste said her main wish to everyone this Christmas, is for "long life and prosperity".