Winter: A season of quiet warmth

As the final echoes of the hurricane season fade into November’s history, Jamaica enters a season we call winter, a period both gentle and profound. While winter elsewhere summons images of snow and frost, our Jamaican winter arrives as cool breezes, clearer skies, and a soothing calm that settles across the land. Along the coast, temperatures remain inviting, but January and February usher in the island’s coolest days, offering welcome relief after months of heat and rain.

Nowhere is this seasonal shift felt more distinctly than in the higher elevations of Manchester, particularly in Mandeville. Sitting over 2,000 feet above sea level, this hilltop town, founded in 1816 and named after Viscount Mandeville, awakens to misty mornings and nights cool enough for a light jacket. Once described as a “typical English village”, Mandeville’s temperate climate made it a refuge for British troops seeking respite from the lowland heat. Yet, beyond its colonial architecture lies a deeper warmth, one rooted in community, reflection, and rhythm.

EXPLORE AND SLOW DOWN

Jamaica’s winter is not simply a temperature change; it is an invitation to explore and to slow down. Away from the bustling beaches, lesser-known gems shine during the off-season. The mineral waters of Bath in St Thomas and Milk River in Clarendon offer healing and stillness, their warmth contrasting beautifully with the cool air. Inland, the Blue Mountains reveal mist-covered peaks and ancient forests, landscapes that speak to histories far older than colonial Jamaica.

Winter also brings quiet abundance. The cool winds support agriculture in places like Christiana, where Irish potatoes thrive, and across the southern plains where citrus reaches its peak. Beneath the soil, work is being done, reminding us that, even in low-temperature seasons, growth is underway.

Culturally, this is a time of gathering and reflection. The ‘Christmas breeze’ signals togetherness, music, and memory. From Roxborough, birthplace of National Hero Norman Washington Manley, to Christiana, home of musical icon Byron Lee, Jamaica’s legacy teaches us that our greatest achievements are forged not by climate, but by character.

It may be cold outside. It may be winter. But let it be warm within you. Let your thoughts carry kindness, your words be infused with love and goodwill, and your actions reflect who you truly are. Be warm. Be gentle. Be love. Be peace. And, in this quiet Jamaican winter, may you find a heartfelt sunshine day.

Contributed by Dr Lorenzo Gordon, a diabetologist, internal medicine consultant, biochemist, and a history and heritage enthusiast. Send feedback to inspiring876@gmail.com