NorthStar Flags

When you visit Jamaica, you will realize that there are so many languages and dialects spoken by the locals. Some of the dialects were influenced by Asian, European and African countries because for so many years, people from these areas traded and dealt with the ancient groups living on the island. Today, about 900,000 Jamaicans are located in the United States of America. Another 800,000 live in the United Kingdom while over 231,000 stay in Canada. There are also more Jamaicans spread in other parts of the globe. English is the national language of Jamaica and has been its main language for 300 years.

The English language spoken in Jamaica is termed Jamaican Standard English, which is a combination of British English and American English. The accent that people use is very similar to the Irish. As for spelling, Jamaicans use the British approach. The unofficial language of the island nation is the Jamaican Patois, or Jamaican. It is a very good language to learn when visiting or living in Jamaica. It has Creole roots, which means that it stemmed from two main languages, namely West African and English. At present, there are over six million people in the country who speak Jamaican Patois. The lyaric is another English dialect spoken by members of the Rastafari movement in Jamaica. Those who are part of the movement do not like anything that was brought by Westerners. Sometimes, Jamaicans also coin their own terms to describe a variety of things and circumstances. Guests might be surprised to hear these once in a while.

At present, there are over 2.8 individuals who proudly call themselves locals of Jamaica. However, the island used to hold only a few people in the past. According to old tales, only a few thousand Jamaicans stayed on the island before Christopher Columbus landed with his crew. The ancient folks were known as the Tainos and Arawaks. These groups were said to have lived on the island from 4000 B.C. to 1000 B.C. Columbus arrived on the island in 1494 when he went to North America for the second time. Upon reaching Jamaica, they were surprised that the locals were very friendly towards them. The Arawak and Taino groups offered them gifts and food and held special celebrations because of their arrival. Through the years, the Arawaks and Tainos diminished in number. At present, most of the people in Jamaica is African. Europeans were the ones who brought Africans to the island to be traded as slaves. Some of these people were able to escape into the hills. Later on, they were recognized as Maroons. Since that time, the Maroons also passed on their own traditions that many Jamaicans still practice today. After Africans, Chinese and Indians are the most numerous.

The Europeans, namely the Irish, Scottish, English, Spanish and Germans also populated Jamaica. There are other races that you can find as well like Lebanese, Jews, Scots and Syrians, among others. Regardless of a person’s background, a Jamaican will always proudly share to you their national motto, which is, “Out of many, one people”.

The culture and traditions in Jamaica is very rich because of the way the country was shaped by its residents and early colonizers. The island nation is found in the Caribbean and is widely famous for its great cuisine and beautiful sights. There are many more things to find in Jamaica when you come and visit.

Some of the expected views include a variety of animals, plants and flowers, blue and fair skies, the Caribbean sea, forests, beaches, fresh and ocean water, reggae music, good food and even marijuana. The country is found in the Caribbean Sea and among the Greater Antilles islands, is the third-biggest. There are four other island countries in the area namely Haiti, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Haiti. Jamaica is the fifth biggest among all the islands in the territory. The name is said to have been made by the Tainos a long time ago. The land used to be called Xaymaca, which stands for “Land of Water and Wood” and “Land of Springs”.

When it comes to freedom, Jamaica is still young, having gained its independence in 1962. The country used to be called Santiago by the Spanish colonizers. Now, it has become a Commonwealth country, with Queen Elizabeth II at the helm.

Jamaica features people from various parts of the globe. Through the years, the people have merged and the looks and language may differ through the years. The culture and practices have also been influenced by other countries because of how people moved to Jamaica from different places.

Similar to its culture, the dishes in Jamaica have also gained a reputation for featuring some of the most unique spices, cooking styles and flavors that can only be found on this side of the Caribbean. Jamaican cuisine tends to be hot and full of spices. People usually include a variety of spices and good-smelling herbs that improve the taste whether they are serving fish or meat. The national dish is Saltfish and Ackee. The spicy jerk chicken and jery pork are also among the most popular in the local scene. A number of Jamaicans, particularly those from the Rastafarian movement, like vegetable dishes. Fruits and vegetables are used in many dishes. The spices that are found locally are also used to make jerky. The national drink is Jamaican rum, although people also like hibiscus tea and midisheuntain coffee. Jamaican food can be found abroad and there are even fusion recipes in a number of restaurants. Jamaican taste is actually developed by many countries who visited the country and introduced their own ingredients and dishes, such as the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.

When you experience Jamaican culture, you will find that it has been influenced by other countries in Asia, Europe and North America. At present, Jamaicans celebrate holidays that were introduced by the British, Americans, West Africans, Chinese and Indians. They also play local and unique music as the people enjoy the dishes. Reggae is the most popular kind of music from Jamaica that spread throughout the world. Jamaican culture continues to spread today and is well-received by people everywhere.

The first internationally famous Jamaican literary figure was Thomas MacDermot. MacDermot was a novelist, journalist and poet from Jamaica who was well known for pushing Jamaican literature throughout the globe. Aside from him, there are other well-known authors who originated from the island country such as Louis Simpson, Derek Walcott and Claude McKay.

There are also other Jamaican greats in the field of theater, such as Andrew Salkey, Mikey Smith and Louise Bennett. These special people were very helpful in patois plays. Jamaica has a yearly movie event known as “The Reggae Film Festival”. It is held in Kingston every year in February.

Jamaican attire is a combination of African and European looks. The culture of Jamaica can be seen just by looking at the way that people dress up. Although Jamaican clothing is inspired by various cultures, there are certain types that resemble the taste and preference of original Jamaican creators, because of the way that these present the heritage of the country. Jamaican women generally wear a skirt, headscarf and top. The men wear western clothes with short sleeves. There are bright colored clothes as well but these tend to be light because of the hot climate. People in Jamaica like cotton.

The Rastafarian clothing is also famous in Jamaica. Rastas usually make clothes using natural fibers. The usual colors are red, yellow and green. Red also stands for the blood of the black people. Green stands for the lost African lands. Yellow stands for the gold that was taken away from Africa.

A Jamaican art movement only took place during the middle of the 20th century. It was more of a revolution, and not merely a movement. People from various backgrounds gathered and made a number of compelling works of art that presented the political and social status of the country at that time. Currently, the National Gallery of Jamaica, which is located in Kingston, features some of the best works of art in all of the Caribbean.

Aside from all these, there are also selected private art galleries that feature popular and new artists. The Jamaica School of Art that was established in 1950, served as the centerpiece between the masses and the Jamaican art movement. The school was later absorbed into the Kingston Cultural Training Centre. The school also taught other things such as drama, dance and music. Dance and music are also core pieces of Jamaican culture. Reggae is one of its most prized possessions. Bob Marley, a member of the Rastafari movement, shared the music of Jamaica to the rest of the world. There are also other artists like Shabba Ranks, Sly Dunbar, Shaggy, Robby Shakespeare and many more who won Grammy Awards and other prizes around the world. There are actually over 30 Jamaican dances and many of these feature African and European roots.

Oral tradition is also widespread in Jamaica. People talked about the Jamaican slaves when the colonizers arrived as well as the movements that helped free the people and made the country what it is today.

In Jamaica, the usual gift given during marriages is eggs. These are supposed to be used to make the wedding cake. The event, albeit big, is actually short and concludes with the cake being cut. Obeah is a principle that relates to witchcraft and black magic. The belief is supposed to be useful to save lives as well as inflict damage on enemies. The practice has been deemed illegal in Jamaica for many years. However, some people are still practicing it in the rural areas and those who are found practicing are rarely brought to court. Obeah men or people who practice are given great respect.

Jamaican traditions aid in defining the society and history of the nation. These are practices that been executed for several years and became tradition over the years. There are actually ancient Jamaican art that date back to prehistoric times. Some of the artworks are actually made by Tainos and consist of paintings, sketches and engravings. Some of these are made on cave walls and rock surfaces. Some of the art give reference to their deities, daily activities in the past and religious beliefs. There are also artworks presenting nature. There are several wooden and stone masks and figurines show the people’s relationship with the spirits or zemis.

The artworks in Jamaica somewhat diminished during the colonial period, because many Africans were traded in slavery. Artists in the country at that time were either prohibited or not given the appreciation they deserved. Later on, the aesthetic culture returned.

The residents of Jamaica present a variety of old customs and practices. Some of these are associated with the birth and death rituals of individuals. Although many of these are practiced in various areas throughout the country and even abroad, there are others that have lost their significance through the years and are only limited today. One of the basic rites in Jamaica is related to the delivery process, and involves burying the umbilical cord of a newborn baby.

A tree, known as a “navel-string tree” or “baby tree” is planted at the spot where the umbilical cord was buried. This way, the baby stays linked to his or her place of birth and can even visit the tree as they both grow together. The practice is based in the Jamaican principle of going back to their place of origin and thriving for the sake of their people.

The Nine Night is also considered as one of the most essential Jamaican funeral events. During the first eight nights, the relatives and friends of the dead gather at his house and celebrate by singing, dancing and drinking the night away. On the ninth night, goodbye songs are played. The room of the person who died is also rearranged to prevent the spirit of the dead from returning and living in the same room. A last meal is also presented to the spirit and kept beneath a silk-cotton tree. It is believed to be the place where spirits hide. A customary Jamaican marriage involves a big celebration, a lot of food and big expenses. There is a time when big families gather and mingle before the big wedding day.

The experiences and lifestyle of Jamaicans are generally molded by their family background and religious beliefs. Because of the ethnic diversity in the country, there are various religions exercised throughout the land. The Tainos based their religious belief on animism. The group worshiped plants and animals as well as other forces of nature. The god Yucahu and goddess Atabey, are their main deities. Yuhacu is known as the god of the sea and vegetable root, while his mother, goddess Atabey, is the goddess of fertility and fresh water.

The Tainos also believed in spirits, called zemis, which can be either good or evil. They believe that the spirits are also present in nature and appear in various forms. Zemis were worshiped by the people to prevent natural disasters from happening. When the English and Spanish colonies entered to spread Christianity, the beliefs in the deities began to diminish. At present, about 80 percent of Jamaicans is Christian. Jamaican settlements, regardless of location and size, have at least one church. The mass on Sunday is deemed very important and people are expected to join and wear proper clothes. The Anglican Church of Jamaica is the biggest denomination, which consists of Roman Catholic teachings. There are also some Protestant churches in the country. Today, tourists might still find those who still practice ancient and mystic religions or Old Testament Christianity.

There are those who uphold African fundamentalism, called Rastas. The Rastafari movement shares the ideal of preserving Jamaican heritage and roots. Rastas generally sport dreadlocks, goatees and use marijuana to allegedly get closer to God. These individuals do not adopt anything that was inspired by Westerners.

There are several Jamaican diasporas in countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. Based on statistics, English-speaking nations are also more preferred by Jamaicans. About 900,000 Jamaicans live in the United States, about 800,000 chose to reside in the United Kingdom while over 231,000 live in Canada. English is the official language of Jamaica and people in the country have actually been speaking it for over three centuries.

The language is called Jamaican Standard English and is a mixture of British English and American English. The accent is Irish although British spelling is preferred over American. The unofficial national language of Jamaica is Jamaican Patois, also known as Jamaican by the locals. Jamaican Patois is actually very interesting to learn because of its history. It is Creole language which is a mixture of two parent languages, namely West African and English. At present, there are about 6.2 million people who speak Jamaican Patois. It is the most widely spoken language in the country. There is also the lyaric, which is an English-based dialect. Members of the Rastafari speak lyaric and do not prefer English because it is the language brought by the English colonizers.

The Rastafari movement abhors anything that was brought and introduced by the English settlers so they made a new dialect. Jamaicans are actually known to create their own terms to fit any subject that they communicate. You might wonder what a certain word means when speaking to a local. Learn a few words before visiting and you will enjoy your stay more.