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Dancehall's first lady D'Angel eagerly awaits Christmas each year, a season she says is guaranteed to bring "love and good cheers."
"It's the happiest time of the year," she shared with a glowing smile. "It's [a time] for persons to just spread a little love to everyone you meet ... you give back, be loving and caring and share. It's [also] all about family. Suh during this time, if yuh vex wid a family, find the family [member] and reunite."
For D'Angel, Christmas is not just a date on the calendar but an event full of festive magic, captured perfectly in her hit song Spread A Little Love. The artiste paints a picture of what a Christmas day in her home looks like - a vibrant, heartwarming celebration infused with Jamaican tradition.
"Oh my God, a bare excitement!" she exclaimed.
"From yuh enter di house, it just feels like Christmas - di Christmas song dem ago play, [yuh have] di cake, di sorrel, and I'm in the kitchen cooking up a storm. I have a special barbecue chicken that I do every year with my own ingredients, I make my sauce from scratch. Ma family and friends are always big on [the chicken] because dem always a seh, 'Save piece addi chicken,'" she said, laughing. She also gave a shout out to her mom, who makes the "best sorrel."
While many Jamaicans brave the holiday shopping chaos, the Not The Same singer revealed that she avoids the hustle and bustle by planning ahead.
"I tend to go away and do my shopping overseas because I'm very handpicked and fussy in terms a weh mi really want," she admitted. "Mi cyaah tek di rush and excitement...and di less yuh can outta road dem time a year yah, di betta fi yuh."
Despite her busy schedule as a performer, D'Angel makes it clear that family takes top priority at Christmas.
"Mi tek every bookings a Jamaica, no, mi waah stay here; and if I do get a booking overseas, mi affi carry mi family wid mi - mi wudda neva lef mi son - Marco Dean, dat impossible," she shared passionately.
For her, there is no place quite like Jamaica during Christmas. "The vibe is always good - the music a play pon di corner shop, people a put up di pepper light, di excitement, di pickney dem dress up. It's just always a vibe and energy in Jamaica," she said.
But amid the fun and festivities, D'Angel never loses sight of the true meaning of the season. She carves out quiet time to reflect and talk to God, keeping the spiritual essence of Christmas close to her heart.
Her generosity shines through her Angels Foundation. This year, she is on a mission to surpass her previous efforts by distributing 500 care packages to the less fortunate, doubling down after an emotional experience last year.
"I want to do 500 care packages this year. Last year, I never got to do a lot - I think I did about 300 and we had about 700 people out there, and I cried [because] it felt really tough....".
Determined to make a bigger impact, she is calling on sponsors to join her cause. "I'll be knocking down and kicking down doors fa my people," she vowed.
The foundation's Christmas initiative is set for December 23 at Spanish Town Municipal Park, and D'Angel is hopeful for "tears of joy" this year.
As she prepares for the season, D'Angel has one heartfelt wish for her fellow Jamaicans: "Unity and stop abusing our women and children." Though she plans to relocate internationally soon, she made one thing crystal clear - Jamaica will always be her Christmas home.
English (US) ·