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What is Jamaica Day about?


what is jamaica day


I’m a born Jamaican,
"I’m a son of the soil,
I love the sea, I love the sun, Lord I love this land"
-- “Born Jamaican” by Stanley and the Astronauts (1979)


And it is not just Stanley and the astronauts, Jamaicans and visitors from across the globe share a common passion for this beautiful land.

And the land, not necessarily the physical terrain, but our people and culture. The richly blended Jamaican culture is one of a kind!

This same culture has drawn music lovers from across the world to our festivals, foodies to our restaurants, and indeed you to this website.

We take it for granted, but this culture that the world adores and what we enjoy today has been passed down several generations.

Our fore-parents have left this little island with a basketful of dishes, music, dances, and stories that have been passed on throughout the generations.

However, through migration and the advancement of technology, to some extent, we continue to see fragments of our culture being erased.

To keep our culture alive, the Jamaican government has devoted an entire day to celebrating our “Jamaican-ness”. This day is known as Jamaica Day.

Jamaica Day was established as a day for Jamaicans, home and abroad, to celebrate our “Jamaicaness’’ and strengthen our cultural connection by giving citizens a deep appreciation for national heritage.



Get A Glimpse Into JAMAICA DAY. Watch These Short Videos Below!


This, Jamaica Day, is observed annually on the last Friday in February.
Locals usually show their support by dressing up in black, green and gold.

Throughout the years, the theme of Jamaica Day has always begun with the words “Celebrating Jamaica…”.

For example, in 2018, the theme was ‘Celebrating Jamaica: Nurturing our Cultural and Natural Heritage’. Thus, implying that the day is all about valuing our culture.

Here is a list of all the themes, and dates celebrated, since 2011.

YEAR Celebrated THEME

2024 February 23 Celebrating Jamaica: Authentic and Unique… A Fi Wi TREND A Dweet
2023 March 3 Celebrating Jamaica, From the Root to the Fruit
2022 February 25 Celebrating Jamaica: Building Character: Hearts through the Arts
2021 February 26 Celebrating Jamaica: Reggae the Message of Resilience and Triumph
2020 February 21 Celebrating Jamaica: Highlighting our icons in the Arts
2019 February 22 Celebrating Jamaica: Embracing Positive Values…
Visioning Inclusive Education for a Better Jamaica
2018 February 23 Celebrating Jamaica: Nurturing our Culture and Natural Heritage
2017 February 24 Celebrating Jamaica: Exploring Our Legacy in a Global Context
2016 March 4 Celebrating Jamaica, Promoting the Arts
2015 February 27 Celebrating Jamaica: Celebrating Regional Friendships...
From Boukman to Bolivar
2014 February 28 Celebrating Jamaica: Sporting Greatness In My Community
2013 February 22 Celebrate Jamaica: We On It
2012 February 17 Celebrating Jamaica: Goals for Gold
2011 February 25 Celebrating Jamaica, Feasting on Our Heritage



Jamaica Day at School


Although widely celebrated, the main object of Jamaican Day is the children.

In fact, Jamaica Day is a central cultural program in the education system.

The first Jamaica Day was celebrated on May 2002, with only eleven schools participating.

Now, this annual event is celebrated in every educational institution across the island. Schools uniquely coordinate the day’s activities toward nurturing culture and branding national pride in the hearts of their students.

One of the most notable aspects of Jamaica Day involves the students being attired in traditional bandanas or in Jamaican colors.

Additionally, students are engaged in various activities that help to enhance their understanding of our culture and heritage.


These activities include:

  • Poetry reciting - Louise Bennett's poems are a popular item on Jamaica Day. Some of her most popular poems include Bun and cheese, Mout-amassi and Colonization in Reverse.

  • Traditional Dances - Some of the traditional dances that are performed are Quadrille, Cumina, and Maypole.

  • Skit Performances- Here we see popular Jamaican tales in live and living color. Students re-enact popular Jamaican folk tales and bring characters, such as Anansi, the mischievous spider, to life.

  • Musical Presentations- Students usually perform traditional folk songs. Some popular ones are ‘Peel head Johncrow’, ‘Mango Time’ and ‘Linstead Market’.

    These musical renditions are usually complemented with musical instruments, thus making it a grand performance.

  • In some cases, there are also flag-raising ceremonies!


Since this day is all about deepening culture, history is important and students are given a glimpse into the past.

Items used “back in the day” are put on display and students are told what use these items had.

jamaica

Some of these items include:

  • Enamel mug
  • Calabash
  • Coconut brush
  • Coal iron
  • Sud iron
  • Coal pot and
  • The Old Salter's Weight Scale

jamaican

But what a Jamaica Day without Jamaican food!

Food In Jamaica Day


Some of our favourite traditional dishes are placed on display.

bammy on jamaica day

These include:

  • bammy and fish,
  • fish and festival,
  • coconut rundown,
  • ackee and saltfish
  • And Jamaican-style rice and peas.

See pictures of Jamaican foods here.

And the desserts?

jamaica day food -drops


Some popular traditional sweets include:

  • Coconut drops,
  • Blue draws,
  • tamarind balls,
  • gizzardas,
  • grater cake,
  • Sweet potato pudding and Toto (which is actually coconut cake).

More on Jamaican desserts here

Native Jamaican fruits, such as naseberry, pineapple, Jamaican otaheite apples and mangoes are also on display.

Overall, Jamaica Day is an excellent effort to deepen national culture and engrave the Jamaican heritage in the hearts of each and every Jamaican.

Watch These Videos To Get A Glimpse!

JAMAICA DAY at Montego Bay High School





JAMAICA DAY at Howard Cooke Primary





Regards,
Aneisha Dobson, Associate Writer

P.S. Read more on the Jamaican culture here.

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