Learning about Jamaican Culture

Culture, as we put it, is a collection of beliefs and ideas of people in a specific place. Different countries come with different cultures of course.  In this site, let’s come to know more about Jamaican culture – a colorful mixture of various people’s influences.

Out of Many, One People

That’s the motto, and perhaps provides the most suitable definition of culture of Jamaica. This symbolism was adapted after their liberation from Great Britain in 1962. In Jamaica’s National Flag, we can also trace their rich cultural heritage- two black triangles symbolizes historical struggles, green triangles represent agricultural riches, and yellow-cross stripes that symbolizes the sun and its mineral resources. The national symbolism also represents the combination among the cultures of Africa, Europe, India and China which led to the present Jamaican culture.

The People.  Jamaicans are said to be intriguing and unique individuals. They are also friendly and altruistic shown in their unofficial motto: “No problem man.” Strong family ties also identify the Jamaicans. They value the importance of family above all. Jamaicans also have this idea of ‘utilizing whatever is available to make something remarkable.’ Though they somewhat are laidback, Jamaicans also are hard-working people which have strong belief in honest labor. Indeed, Jamaicans really know how to survive.

The Religion. On Saturdays and Sundays, it is common to see Jamaican people walking down the street, holding their bibles and heading off to church. To them, religion is an important part of life. In fact, you can see churches in every street and take note: Jamaica set a record on the Guinness Book of World Records which has the most number of churches foe every square mile. In general, Jamaicans are mostly Christians but there are also different denominations like Methodist, Anglican, and Seventh Day Adventist.

The Language. Jamaican English is the official language but they use British English in spellings. ‘Jamaican Creole’, or Jamaican Talk is a multiethnic indigenous creation that represents the defiance of European authority. This creole is used by Jamaicans in everyday living, for conversational purposes. On the other hand, the Jamaican English is considered the language of education which is used in the government and in formal speeches.

The Food. There is an extreme variation in cuisines served in Jamaica since its inhabitants are a mixture of different ethnicity in the world. They have a ‘country morning meal’, composed of boiled bananas, salted cod, and herbal or chocolate tea. Popular dishes include Red Pea Soup, Jerk Chicken and SaltFish which is their national dish.