Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean. We want to get to know the customs and traditions of the people of Jamaica. Stay tuned with Saed News.
Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea, and its capital is Kingston. Jamaica is located south of Cuba and west of the island of Hispaniola. The country covers an area of 10,990 square kilometers and has a population of 2.9 million people. Jamaica is the third most populous English-speaking country in the Americas after the United States and Canada. The currency of Jamaica is the Jamaican dollar, and driving is on the left side of the road. Most of the people in this country are Black. The original inhabitants of Jamaica were the Arawak Native Americans, the most important of whom were the Taino people.
According to the latest census, religion in Jamaica is divided as follows: 66% Christians (62% Protestant, 2% Roman Catholic, and 2% Jehovah’s Witnesses), 3% unspecified, and 10% others. The other groups include about 29,026 Rastafarians, an estimated 5,000 Muslims, 3,000 Buddhists, 1,453 Hindus, and approximately 200 Jews. The census reports that 21% claim no religious affiliation. The largest indigenous religion in Jamaica is Rastafarianism. Jamaican laws guarantee freedom of religion and prohibit religious discrimination. While Rastafarians were previously discriminated against by the government, since 2015 the government has taken steps toward reform. Representatives from Jamaica’s Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities describe the country as tolerant of religious diversity.
The culture of Jamaica is composed of religion, norms, values, and lifestyle that define the Jamaican people. This culture is mixed, with an ethnically diverse society, originating from the history of its inhabitants starting with the original Taino people. Initially, the Spanish brought slavery to Jamaica, but they were later overthrown by the English. Jamaica was emancipated from slavery on August 1, 1838, and gained independence from England on August 6, 1962. Black slaves became the dominant cultural force due to their endurance and resistance to harsh forced labor conditions. After emancipation, Chinese and Indian immigrants were also brought to the island as indentured workers, bringing ideas from the Far East. These contributions have led to diversity and influence on Jamaica’s language, music, dance, religion, norms, and social customs. The official language of Jamaica is English, used in all formal settings. However, the national language is a form of English-based creole called Jamaican Patois (or Jamaican Creole), which is the most widely spoken language among Jamaican citizens.
Jamaicans often believe that “their spirit” does not like you, and therefore, you cannot be friends with them. This belief is based on what many people call a “gut feeling,” which Jamaicans highly value. They will look for flaws in you and quickly say, “I told you so… Mi Spirit Neva [never] trick to avoid trouble.” In Jamaican contexts, criticism means you are unlucky, and they want nothing to do with you. Your presence might be seen as interference with a goal or an obstacle, or your actions may be viewed as problematic or causing trouble for others.
Belief in superstition is common in most Central American countries, and Jamaicans follow this traditional rule. People in Jamaica believe in magic, which includes two types of spells: white magic and black magic. According to the people, both white and black magic can bring good luck but can also curse anyone. Spirit summoning of the dead is also common. Jamaicans believe the spirit of the dead wanders the earth for up to nine days after death, during which survivors perform ceremonies to help the spirit enter heaven. For this reason, for nine nights after a death, relatives hold loud ceremonies accompanied by percussion instruments and special dances. Of course, some people mock such beliefs and do not believe in black and white magic, but many continually seek out shops selling magic and spells. Interestingly, local newspapers often narrate adventurous stories about broken curses, further spreading superstition among the people.
Jamaicans wear very colorful, lively, loose, and comfortable clothes. Jamaican women often wear traditional handmade clothing, including skirts, blouses, and scarves made from a fabric called calico. Due to the warm weather, women usually wear short-sleeved blouses. Men wear pants and shirts, but the fabric used for men’s clothes is natural and organic. Because of the island’s warm and humid climate, most business people dress casually. Besides their shirts, they wear sport coats or vests when attending social events.
In Jamaica, women’s rights and gender equality are fully respected, and for this reason, the number of educated women is significantly higher than that of men. It is hard to believe that Jamaica, one of the smallest countries in Central America, has a percentage of women in managerial roles comparable to the United States and Canada. People in this country believe women have entered managerial positions because Jamaican men, according to an old custom, prefer to sit on the couch watching football and leave all affairs to women. The other side of the coin should not be ignored: Jamaican men are very calm, to the extent that the motto “Take it easy, man” is popular among the people. From the perspective of other countries, Jamaican men seem very hardworking and diligent. A Jamaican proverb says: “The Jamaican man, a great lover, a hardworking laborer.”
In Jamaica, as in many countries, the bride shines more than the groom at wedding ceremonies. But this is not only due to beautiful dresses and makeup! Jamaican brides control the entire wedding ceremony, deciding everything from the number of guests and the time and place of the event to the type and quantity of food served. The groom usually has little say in these matters. Of course, the bride funds these generous gestures because, according to Jamaican customs, the guests provide gifts that cover the entire cost of the ceremony and sometimes even the honeymoon. Official wedding ceremonies mostly take place in churches, followed by celebrations in the backyard of the groom’s family. However, these customs are changing, and in recent years many brides prefer to hold their wedding celebrations on the beach or in a luxurious hotel or hall.
Jamaicans are very kind, generous, and hospitable. They quickly become close with others, and their social circles are not limited to family members. Jamaican children often have dozens of uncles and aunts who are not their parents’ siblings but are called so due to friendships with their parents. This is similar to a practice seen in many cultures, including ours. These friendships become so deep that despite no blood relation, in times of need, individuals benefit from a broad support system.
Around 650 AD, the island was named Xaymaca by the Taino and Arawak peoples, who came from South America and settled there. The name means “Land of Wood and Water.” Around 1400, the Caribs, a cannibalistic tribe from South America, arrived and disrupted the peaceful life of the Arawaks. In 1494, the island was discovered by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage and claimed as his private possession. Jamaica became the first British colony with direct government control by Britain. Before that, English colonies in the Caribbean and North America were controlled by private companies.
