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When you visit Jamaica, you will realize how its culture and cuisine feature its own background and natural wonders. As far as food in Jamaica is concerned, you will discover a variety of flavors, spices, cooking techniques and restaurants. Jamaican dishes tend to be spicy so be careful when trying new ones for the first time. The locals like to use their own herbs and spices. These dishes have gained significance throughout the world because of the rich flavors and texture. The national dishes in the country are Ackee and Saltfish. Other favorites include the spicy jerk chicken and jerk pork. A number of Jamaicans like to eat vegetables, especially the Rastas. The national drink is rum which is often taken with or without food. Other great drinks to try include hibiscus tea and blue mountain coffee. Jamaican food can be found abroad and these are served almost the same way as the original version. There are actually many restaurants in countries like the United States and United Kingdom.

Jamaican culture stems from various influences, particularly from foreigners who used to visit and trade with the ancient groups of the island. At present, people in Jamaica celebrate various holidays from other parts of the world. There are also local festivals that honor the culture and traditions of the island nation. Jamaican culture has continued to spread worldwide and has been acknowledged by people everywhere. Reggae music has become a worldwide sensation, thanks to the contributions of artists like Bob Marley and his friends.

One of the pioneers in the field of Jamaican literature was Thomas MacDermot. He was a Jamaican poet, novelist and journalist who was widely known throughout the world. He is actually known for inspiring Jamaican literature on a global scale. Aside from him, Derek Walcott, Louis Simpson and Claude McKay have also been given awards in the past for being big contributors on behalf of Jamaica.

In the world of theatre, Louise Bennett, Mikey Smith and Andrew Salkey have made waves through the years because of their knowledge and expertise in patois plays. Jamaica has a yearly event known as “The Reggae Film Festival”. It is held in Kingston every February and focuses on the movies made by local directors and artists.

In terms of clothing, Jamaican attire is a combination of European and African fashions. The culture of the country can actually be seen by the way that people dress. The clothing in the country shows the native background. Women generally wear a headscarf, top and skirt while the men wear short sleeves or western clothes. The garments of the locals usually feature attractive colors and are generally light because of the warm weather. Their preferred type of fabric is cotton. Rastafari clothes are also widely used in Jamaica. Clothes are made of natural fibers and usually show the colors red, yellow and green. These tones are holy to the Rasta. Red symbolizes the blood of the Africans. Yellow stands for the gold that was taken from them, while green represents the land that was removed from its people.

An all-out Jamaican art movement was only done in the middle of the 20th century. The stage was known as a big revolution where people from various regions of the country came together to showcase their artworks and literary pieces that carried heavy messages to speak about the current political atmosphere. At present, the National Gallery of Jamaica, which is found in Kingston, contains some of the rarest pieces of art from the Caribbean dating back several centuries.

There are also private art galleries that showcase the works of famous artists and rising stars. The Jamaica School of Art was made in 1950 and served as a huge link between the masses in the country and the art movement. The school was joined into the Kingston Cultural Training Centre later on, which also educated people about music, dance and drama. Dance and music are an integral part of Jamaican culture. Reggae music has established itself as one of the most defining aspects of the country’s culture. Bob Marley is one of the most renowned artists of all time. There are also other notable singers from the country like Melody Makers, Shaggy, Sly Dunbar, Black Uhuru and Robby Shakespeare. Some of them have been awarded in the Grammys. There are more than 30 types of Jamaican dances that have been established until the present period.

Oral tradition is also widely practiced in Jamaica, speaking about Jamaican slaves and other experiences when the country was colonized.

In the country of Jamaica, eggs are among the most common presents given to the newlyweds. The eggs are supposed to be used to create the wedding cake. The celebration is short but grand. The final activity involves the cutting of the wedding cake. Obeah is a practice that is known to be related to black magic and witchcraft. Obeah is said to be exercised to save lives as well as bring bad fortune to others. The exercise has been considered unlawful in the country many years ago, although only a few people are actually convicted for the tradition. If you visit rural locations, there are some people who still practice Obeah.

Jamaican traditions have been passed down from generation to generation and helped shape society into what it is today. Jamaicans are very proud of their culture and heritage and talk about these everywhere. Ancient art in the country is also worth being proud of. There are ancient Taino artworks which include sketches, paintings, sculptures and engravings. The drawings may appear on rock surfaces and caves. The rock art also tells about the deities of the Jamaicans and their lifestyle in the past, which include hunting, harvesting and being one with nature. You will find masks, figurines and other great works featuring the spirits.

Ancient art in Jamaica took a rest when the Western colonizers arrived. The focus was on trading slaves and not on art. Artists in Jamaica only returned when the Rastafari movement became active and the country was given its independence.

The people living in Jamaica follow a number of ancient traditions and principles. Some of these have relations with the birth and death practices of a person. The customs have been practiced for many years and even Jamaicans living abroad tend to practice these regardless of their location. If you visit remote areas in the country, you might be surprised to find folks who still know the ancient traditions very well. One of the basic customs that is still practiced at present involves burying the umbilical cord of a newborn baby.

A tree is planted where the umbilical cord is buried. It is called a “baby’s tree” or “navel-string tree”. The baby might visit the spot someday when he is older to remind him of his roots and place of birth. The custom is still widely practiced by many Jamaicans. There are many other practices that other people like to know more about.

Another funeral custom is called the “Nine Night”. When a person dies, his friends, family and loved ones gather at his house for the first eight nights. These guests would dance, drink, dine and sing the entire night. On the final night or the ninth night, only farewell tunes are played. The room of the person who died will be reorganized so that his spirit will no longer recognize it and will not come back to stay. The last meal is also served to the spirit of the dead and placed below a silk-cotton tree. There is a traditional Jamaican wedding celebration that is full of food and cheer. This is one of the rare times when the entire family gathers to celebrate.

Some Jamaicans are very religious and many of them have beliefs that have been passed down from one generation to the next. Because of the ethnic diversity in the country, there are several religions practiced throughout the island nation. The Taino group used to believe in animism. This means that the ancient people used to pray to the forces of nature and also revered animals and plants. They believed in the god Yucahu and his mother, goddess Atabey. These two were their main deities. Yucahu was known as the god of the ocean and root crops. Atabay was known as the goddess of fertility and fresh water.

The ancient Tainos also believed in spirits, called zemis. Zemis may be good or evil and appear in various forms. The people worshiped the spirits to ensure that their harvest is plenty and to prevent natural disasters like volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. As the western colonizers arrived in Jamaica, Christianity was also introduced in the country. At present, 80 percent of the locals are Christians. Sunday mass is now very essential for many people and Jamaicans dress well to attend every week. The Anglican Church of Jamaica is the biggest denomination, based on Roman Catholic principles. There are also a few Protestant churches in other areas. African religion features mystic beliefs, fundamentalism and Christianity. There are also Rastafarians, who sport matted hair and use marijuana for spiritual purposes. Rastas are still very active today as they were many years ago, spreading their culture and music to the world.