full of or showing high-spirited merriment; "when hearts were young and gay"; "a poet could not but be gay, in such a jocund company"- Wordsworth; "the jolly crowd at the reunion"; "jolly old Saint Nick"; "a jovial old gentleman"; "have a merry Christmas"; "peals of merry laughter"; "a mirthful laugh"
If you describe a person as jovial, you mean that they are happy and behave in a cheerful way. Father Whittaker appeared to be in a jovial mood + joviality jo·vi·al·ity his old expansive joviality. + jovially jo·vi·al·ly `No problem,' he said jovially. friendly and happy (jovialis ; because people born under the influence of the planet Jupiter were thought likely to be happy)