National Heroes Day in Jamaica
Here's Why We Celebrate Our Heroes

There is something special about National Heroes Day in Jamaica.

Yes, it gives us a welcome break from the normal daily routine, but for me it is much more than another public holiday. It gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the men and women whose courage, sacrifice, and leadership helped to shape the Jamaica we know today. And perhaps just as important, it helps to ensure that their contributions remain in our memory.

It is observed on the third Monday in October each year. Jamaica first celebrated the day on October 20, 1969, seven years after Independence.

What Is National Heroes Day in Jamaica?

Jamaica's National Heroes Day is the day we officially honour our National Heroes and reflect on their contributions to the development of the country.

It is also a day when Jamaicans who are making outstanding contributions in their own time are recognised through national, parish and community awards. That combination is one of the things I appreciate most about the day.

We remember those who helped to change Jamaica's history, but we also recognise people who are quietly helping to build Jamaica today - the unsung heroes.

Who Are Jamaica's Seven National Heroes?

We currently have seven National Heroes - six men and one woman. They have all been conferred with Jamaica’s highest national honour, the Order of National Hero, and are styled “The Right Excellent.”

1. Nanny of the Maroons
   
   Nanny is Jamaica's only National Heroine.  She was a remarkable Maroon leader who played an important role in the resistance against British colonial forces during the early 18th century. It was her leadership, courage and knowledge of Jamaica's mountainous terrain that helped the Windward Maroons successfully resist British attempts to defeat them. Read more about her here.
   
   
2. Samuel Sharpe
   
   Sam "Daddy" Sharpe is especially close to us here in western Jamaica. A Baptist deacon and enslaved man, he helped organise the massive 1831 uprising commonly called the Christmas Rebellion or Baptist War. The rebellion was crushed, and Sharpe was executed in Montego Bay on May 23, 1832. However, the uprising became an important part of the wider movement toward the abolition of slavery. Read more about Daddy Sharpe here.
   
   
3. Paul Bogle
   
   Paul Bogle was a Baptist deacon and community leader from Stony Gut in St. Thomas. He led the protest that developed into the Morant Bay Rebellion of 1865, following years of poverty, injustice and limited political representation among Jamaica's Black population. He was later captured and executed. Read more about him here.
   
   
4. George William Gordon
   
   George William Gordon was a politician and outspoken critic of the harsh social conditions facing poor Jamaicans.  Although he was not physically present during the Morant Bay disturbances, he was arrested, tried under martial law and executed in 1865. You can read more about him here.
   
   
5. Marcus Garvey
   
   Marcus "Mosiah" Garvey became one of Jamaica's most internationally influential figures. Through the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), Garvey promoted Black pride, economic independence and unity among people of African descent around the world. His ideas continue to influence movements well beyond Jamaica. Read more about him here.
   
   
6. Norman Washington Manley
   
   Norman Manley was an attorney, statesman and is credited for founding the People's National Party here. He played a major role in Jamaica's political and constitutional development during the years leading toward Independence. Read more about him here.
   
   
7. Sir Alexander Bustamante
   
   Sir Alexander Bustamante became one of Jamaica's most prominent labour leaders and founded the Jamaica Labour Party. When Jamaica became independent on August 6, 1962, Bustamante became our country's first Prime Minister. Read more about him here.

Why Do We Celebrate National Heroes Day in Jamaica?

At its heart, our National Heroes Day is about remembering courage, sacrifice, service, and nation-building. Our National Heroes lived in very different periods and faced very different challenges.

• Some resisted slavery.
• Some challenged injustice.
• Others helped build the political institutions that eventually led Jamaica toward self-government and Independence.

Their stories remind us that the freedoms and opportunities we have today did not simply appear; there were people before us who struggled for them. And to me, that is why remembering these men and women matters.

I'm a big fan of history, but I know this too -and it is especially true is this fast-changing climate; history can easily become just another lesson we study, unless we deliberately keep it alive. And National Heroes Day gives us that opportunity.

What National Heroes Day Feels Like Here in Jamaica

This is actually one of the reasons I look forward to the day each year; from early in the morning, it feels different. Our local media, including TVJ, normally begins the day with Heroes Day-related programming, features and activities, and that national focus continues throughout much of the day. Across Jamaica, there are also civic ceremonies, cultural presentations and parish events.

It means that, even for someone who does not attend an official function, it is difficult to go through National Heroes Day without being reminded of our history.

The National Honours and Awards Ceremony

One of the events I particularly look forward to is Jamaica's National Honours and Awards ceremony. Traditionally held on National Heroes Day, the ceremony recognises Jamaicans who have given outstanding service in areas such as education, medicine, culture, public service, community development, sport and national security.

As a fan of recognition (I was known for that in corporate), I enjoy watching it because it allows the world to see and appreciate some of the otherwise little-known Jamaicans who made a real impact in their profession and communities - the unsung heroes.

Here in St. James, National Heroes Day has an additional significance for me. We have the traditional Sam Sharpe Awards, which recognise people who have made meaningful contributions to the development of the parish. The presentations form part of the parish's National Heroes Day Civic and Awards Ceremony, traditionally held at Sam Sharpe Square.

And I cannot think of many more appropriate places to hold it.

Montego Bay Civic Center

In closing, I'll grab the opportunity to say this as well; National Heroes Day certainly honours our seven National Heroes, but the values we celebrate are bigger than the seven names; the values of:

• Courage.
• Service.
• Sacrifice.
• Leadership.
• Standing up against injustice.
• Helping others, and
• Making Jamaica better.

And we see these qualities every day in our teachers, nurses, community workers, security forces, firefighters, volunteers, single parents, neighbours and ordinary Jamaicans who step forward when something needs to be done.

Most will never become National Heroes, and they do not need to. So yours truly is taking the opportunity to recognise them here, right now, for their sterling contributions as we celebrate National Heroes Day in Jamaica.

Frequently Asked Questions About National Heroes Day in Jamaica

1. When is National Heroes Day celebrated in Jamaica?
   National Heroes Day is celebrated on the third Monday in October each year.
   
   
2. Is National Heroes Day a public holiday in Jamaica?
   Yes. National Heroes Day is one of Jamaica's official public holidays.
   
   
3. How many National Heroes does Jamaica have?
   Jamaica currently has seven National Heroes
   
   
4. Who is Jamaica's only female National Hero?
   The Right Excellent Nanny of the Maroons is Jamaica's only National Heroine.
   
   
5. When was National Heroes Day first celebrated?
   Jamaica first celebrated National Heroes Day on October 20, 1969.
   
   
6. What happens on National Heroes Day in Jamaica?
   Activities normally include the National Honours and Awards ceremony, parish civic ceremonies, cultural events, media programmes, and other activities honouring Jamaica's heroes and outstanding citizens.

For some people, like most holidays in Jamaica, National Heroes Day may simply mean a day away from work or school. I certainly appreciate the break too!

But I hope we never allow it to become only that; the day gives us the opportunity (at least one per year) to stop, look back, and remember the people whose courage helped to change the direction of our country. Their stories are part of our story.

I think that is something worth preserving.

Regards,
Wellesley

P.S. If you enjoyed learning about our National Heroes, you may also enjoy my Jamaica History Timeline, where I walk through some of the major people, events and turning points that helped shape the Jamaica we know today.

References & Works Cited for National Heroes Day In Jamaica

1. Jamaica Information Service. “Message from the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Mark Golding, MP for National Heroes Day 2022.” Jamaica Information Service, 2022.
2. Jamaica Information Service. “Order of National Hero.” Jamaica Information Service.
3. Office of the Prime Minister. “Protocol: The Chancery of the Orders of the Societies of Honour.” Office of the Prime Minister, Jamaica.
4. Jamaica Information Service. “Six Outstanding Jamaicans to Be Conferred with OJ on Oct. 19.” Jamaica Information Service, 16 Oct. 2026.
5. Jamaica Information Service. “Outstanding Citizens of St. James Receive Sam Sharpe Awards.” Jamaica Information Service, 20 Oct. 2015.

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