Christmas is more than just a season of giving; it’s a time for reflection, reconnection, and celebrating the traditions that bring families and communities together. Between December 12 – 23, Miriam Samuel, affectionately known as Grandma Mirie, is sharing products crafted from the harvest of her backyard garden with the community. She demonstrates that the most meaningful gifts aren’t always bought—they’re shared through love, wisdom, and the simple, yet powerful, act of nurturing those around us.
At 90, Grandma Mirie is more than just a teacher, author, and agro-processor—she is a living example of resilience and life long learning. Through her 12 Days of Christmas Kindness Giveaway, featured on her Facebook page (grandma.mirie.2024), she honors Antigua and Barbuda’s rich culinary and agricultural heritage while sharing practical skills for managing resources, finances, and health. Each day, she shares one of her cherished products, rooted in timeless traditions such as making jams, baking bread, and brewing teas. These simple practices remind us that true prosperity begins by valuing what we already have and using it to bring joy and good health to ourselves and others.
At the heart of this initiative is Grandma Mirie’s guiding philosophy: G.I.F.T.
Give from the heart,
Inspire through kindness,
Flourish by using what you have,
and bring people Together.
It also highlights sustainability and financial wellness through a variety of engaging themes. Activities such as “Oils of Joy,” “Flour-ishing Possibilities,” “Christmas Fudging,” and “Magical Tea Sipping” demonstrate how small, mindful actions can lead to better health, increased savings, and more resilient communities.
Her famous “Pep Up de Pot” organic seasoning, made from seven spices grown in her garden, is particularly popular during the holiday season. It’s more than just a flavorful addition to meals—it symbolizes how creativity and thoughtful planning can put us on a pathway to prosperity and enrich our lives year-round. “Living well isn’t about abundance,” Grandma Mirie says. “It’s about making the most of what you have, giving generously, and investing in traditions that nourish body and soul.”
But Grandma Mirie’s kindness extends far beyond the home—it reaches the broader community and beyond. At her recent Christmas Pop-Up Shop at Gloria’s Supermarket, Grandma Mirie connected with locals, sharing samples of her products as well as her wisdom, inspiring them to live with purpose, creativity, and resourcefulness. As the 12 days draw to a close, she will visit His Majesty’s Prison to bring gifts to inmates—many of whom were her students at the Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development (GARD) Centre. “We all need second chances,” Grandma Mirie says. “The Christmas spirit is for everyone, and we all need to feel loved.”
Earlier this year, Grandma Mirie released her memoir, Mirie’s Magic Recipe: Loving, Leading Legacy (Available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/2QZL8fk) The book captures her wisdom and the life lessons she has accumulated over the years. This memoir features many metaphoric connections to cooking and gardening as well as journal prompts to help readers reflect on how they can make transformative life decisions and build a lasting, meaningful legacy. She embarked on a legacy book tour that took her to Anguilla, the U.K., and schools in Antigua where she once taught.
Grandma Mirie’s 12 Days of Christmas Kindness Giveaway reminds us that true wealth is not measured by material possessions, but by generosity, shared knowledge, and the bonds we create within our communities. As we head into 2025, her challenge to us is simple: How will you G.I.F.T. your time, resources, and love to others beyond the Christmas season?
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