Culture

The situation of Jamaica as an enslavement of Britain for more than 300 years is prominently revealed in both language and customs, which are united with African power. The ethnicity and customs of Jamaica have been intensely inclined by the disparate societies that at various times colonized the island.

Today, Jamaica's people mix traditions from African, European, Arabic, East Indian, Chinese, and East Mediterranean descent.

Cultures have been coming together on Jamaica's shores for more than hundreds of years. And while this mixture stirs pride more than pleasure, it is also the source of Jamaicans' typically loud banter that, sometimes to an outsider, might seem unsuitable.

The Taíno, who had colonized the island long before European discovery, also left behind an enriching history.

Jamaican culture is splendidly flavored by its cuisine as well. The sweet-smelling spices of the Caribbean have permitted the island's kitchens to make some of the most remarkable fusions of flavors in the entire world. The highlight of the Jamaican menu is jerk, which is a marinade that can be supplemented to almost anything, but usually meat.

Seafood is also common on the island, but mostly the Jamaican dishes are what delight the tourists. The main dishes also include cow foot stew and goat's head soups.

A. Music

Jamaicans have a musical heritage that comes from their African and European roots. Reggae music is Jamaica's standard sound.

The traditional reggae beats are rich and catchy and convey expressions such as personal freedom, gossip, religion, and independence. Jamaica's most famous is Bob Marley whose influence helped bring Reggae music into the Jamaican main stream, is a music idol for many reggae enthusiasts.

With the arrival of the 1950s, American well-liked music began to fragment. Be-bop was the next genre of music adopted by the Jamaicans.

Rhythm and blues, the black style formerly called race music, started getting more importance. The period of the jazz orchestra was slowly vanishing, as music grew harder, stronger and more youthful. Even Jamaica was influenced with the same just as many other parts of the globe. The launch to family Jamaican music came with rock 'n' roll.

B. Language

National or official language: English.

Also includes North Levantine Spoken

Arabic (2,000)

Portuguese (5,000)

Spanish (8,000)

Chinese (31,000)

There are 3 listed languages for Jamaica, which are all living languages. English and patois English are the official languages of Jamaica. Patois (Creole) is a mixture of English and some African languages. This is frequently spoken in rural and urban areas.

Most Jamaicans can talk or comprehend Patois, but it is not a written language.

Jamaican speech, even in English, has a typical musical and melodic quality.

The most important element of Jamaica's language stew is Spanish, African, and English. This further includes Irish, British and American phrase and even Rastafarian.

C. Religious Practices

Religion is very essential to Jamaican life, which can be noted in the orientation to Biblical events through everyday communication. Christianity, in its variety of denominations such as the Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Brethren and Roman Catholics, is the religion of the huge mainstream of Jamaicans.

However, you will commonly observe that there are some other religions, which are also practiced in Jamaica by moderately lesser number of people. This includes Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Methodist, Catholic, Seventh-day Adventist, Anglican, Mormon and Rastafarian.

Freedom of worship is assured by Jamaica's constitution. No single religious group has a greater part of devotee, but most of the Jamaicans are at least supposedly Christian. This includes more or less two-fifths of population being Protestants and around one-tenth of them being Roman Catholic Church.

Evangelical Christian churches have undergone sizable changes since the 20th century. Around one-tenth of the population is Pentecostals and there are slightly less numbers of Seventh-day Adventists and Baptists.

In the Western Hemisphere, the Jewish community is known to be the oldest one. Jamaica also comprise of Hindu population, a Muslim mosque, and a branch of the Ethiopian Orthodox church.

Jamaica is first and foremost known for its Rastafarian religion, which has quite a lot of exclusive practices. They consider that Haile Salassie, the earlier leader of Ethiopia, is actually their leader.

They are as a rule free spirited, and suppose in the spiritual use of marijuana or Ganja.

Christmas is characteristically observed by different denominations with Communion services, candlelight ceremonies, concerts, all-night prayer meetings and the singing of Christmas carols.

D. Major Events

Accompong Maroon Festival

Heritage Festivals

St. Elizabeth, South Coast

Traditional dances, ceremonies, Maroon feasts and singing all form a part of the Accompong Maroon Festival. Apart from that they blow the Abeng and also play the Maroon drums as a part of the Maroon festival tradition.

January 06,2006

Rebel Salute

January 14, 2006

Music Festivals

This is a premiere one-night Roots Reggae Festival. Jimmy Cliff, The Mighty Diamonds, Ziggy Marley, Rita Marley, John Holt, Luciano, Buju Banton, Junior Kelly, Abijah, Queen Afriqua, Ken Booth, Half Pint have performed on the stage.

February 2006

Negril Fat Tire Festival

Sports

Negril, Negril

From February 3rd to the 5th, 2006, at the Good Hope, the Negril Fat Tire Festival will be celebarted. Tire Festival embraces the Jamaican Downhill and XC National Championship. This event encompasses live entertainment and certain other activities.

3 February 2006

Bob Marley's Birthday Celebrations

6 February 2006

Music Festivals

This day celebrates the birthday anniversary of legendary superstar Bob Marley.

Hague Agricultural Show

Agricultural Shows

Hague Agricultural Show

You can visit this place and enjoy an entertaining day with friends and family. They exhibit the finest livestock and agricultural produce from across the island. You also get to see an extensive sort of craft items and culinary delights that are offered for sale.

8 February 2006

Health & Spa Tourism Expo

Trade Shows

Hilton Hotel, Kingston, Kingston

Wellness and Destination Health is the main focus of this event. The present important trends prevailing in the Resort Industry are more concentrated upon.

17 February 2006

Music Festivals

Jamaica Carnival, Bacchanal Jamaica

Islandwide, Kingston

The Kingston Premier festival has witnessed an extraordinary growth of Carnival activities over the years, which have facilitated its launch.

The Easter Week is when this festival is usually hosted, with events and shows featuring local and international soca and calypso artistes. Beach Jouvert kicks off the event and it ends with the Road March.

You can witness the beautiful site of a costumed street parade where revelers take pleasure in soca, calypso and reggae music.

These events are subject to change so make certain to check the monthly Calendar of Events.

Other events include

January:

Annual National Exhibitions

National Gallery of Jamaica,

Ocean Blvd.,

Kingston.

Caribbean Convocation,

Montego Bay.

Tel: (876) 978-9728

Little Theater National

Pantomime, Ward Theatre,

Kingston.

Tel: (876) 926-6129

Jamaica Classic Golf

Tournament,

Tryall.

Jamaican Musical Theatre Junior Company,

Creative Arts Centre,

Kingston.

Tel: (876) 924-1430

Red Stripe Cricket Competition,

Sabina Park,

Kingston.

White River Reggae Bash,

White River Reggae Park,

St. Ann.

Tel: (876) 929-4089

High Mountain I

OK Road Race,

Williarnsfield,

Manchester.

Tel: (876) 963-4211

Jamaica International Marathon,

Nationl Stadium in Kingston to Port Royal.

Tel: (876) 927-5331

Stowe Polo Club Polo Tournament,

Chukka Cove,

St. Ann.

Tel: (876) 972-2506

Chukka Cove-Appleton Polo Tournament,

Chukka Cove,

St. Ann.

Tel: (876) 972-2506

University of the West Indies Carnival,

Kingston.

Tel: (876) 927-4870/1660-9

University of West Indies (UWI)

Carnival, Mona,

Kingston.

Tel: (876) 935 8250

Jamaica Kite Festival,

Drax Hall,

St. Ann.

Tel: (876) 974 8258

Labor Day Motor Race Meet,

Dover Raceway,

Near Brown's Town.

Tel: (876) 920-1880

Treasure Beach Off-Road Triathlon,

Treasure Beach,

St. Elizabeth.

Tel: (876) 965-0635/965-3185

Her Excellency's May Day Charities,

Kings House,

Kingston.

South Coast Fishing Tournament,

Hendricks Wharf,

Black River.

Tel: (876) 965-2074

National Finals of Performing Arts,

Kingston.

Tel: (876) 926-5726/9

Ocho Rios Jazz Festival,

Renaissance Jamaica Grande/Almond Tree,

Ocho Rios.

Tel: (876) 927-3544

Portland Jerk Festival,

Boston Playing Fielf,

Portland.

Tel: (876) 929-9200/19

Reggae Sunfest,

Catherine Hall,

Montego Bay.

Tel: (876) 952-0889

Caribbean Fashion Week,

Hilton Hotel/Le Meridien/The Courtleigh,

Kingston.

Tel: (876) 968-1089/90

Independence Day Festival

Street Parade and Grand Gala,

Kings House & Half Way Tree- Kingston.

Tel: (876) 926-5726-7

Reggae Sunfest, Montego Bay.

Motor Race Meet,

Dover Raceway,

Near Brown's Town.

Tel: (876) 920-1880

Push Cart Derby Finals,

Kaiser Sports Club,

Discovery Bay.

Jamaica Festival,

National Arena,

Kingston.

Miss Jamaica World Beauty Pageant and Miss Jamaica Body Beautiful Competition,

National Arena,

Kingston.

Annual Honk and Line Canoe Tournament,

Treasure Beach,

St Elizabeth.

Tel: (876) 965-0635

National Mento Yard Cultural Show,

Seville Heritage Park,

ST. Ann's Bay.

Tel: (876) 926-5726

Caribbean Heritage Fest

Rio Cobre, Portmore,

St. Catherine.

Tel: (876) 754-7609

Devon House Pre-Christmas Craft Fair,

Devon House,

Kingston.

Tel: (876) 926-0815

E. Etiquette / Do's and Don'ts

Do's

- The ordinary way to greet is the handshake with direct eye contact, along with a warm smile.

- Once you are quite acquainted with a woman, you may hug and kiss on each cheek, but always start from the right one.

- Speak to people by their honorific title (Mr., Mrs., or Miss) along with their surname until a personal relationship has been established.

- Look forward to some small talk before business is conferred. It would be better if you let your Jamaican colleagues decide when it is time to talk about business.

- Jamaicans normally stand very close when conversing.

- As status is respected in Jamaica do refer to an employee as "boss man" or "boss woman" if you are not working in the same organization.

- Jamaicans expect other people to be equally direct.

- Finish everything on your plate as it is considered to be extremely respectful.

- Keep your hands in your lap when not eating.

- When eating you are advised to hold the forks in your left hand and the knives in your right.

- Women need to be careful while traveling, as Jamaicans can be quite rough with the opposite sex.

- It is an extremely homophobic society so please be aware and watch your actions.

- You have to pay 20% extra charges if you want to go nude on the beaches.

Don'ts

- Bargaining is usual and anticipated. Avoid giving your best offer at the commencement of negotiations.

- Jamaicans are direct in their dealings and are pretty straightforward. They like to the conversations to be short and brief and too many details do not impress them. So avoid the latter part whenever possible.

- Do not appear over familiar with people at the first greeting.

- Business relationships are viewed as more important than rules.

- Do not initiate eating until the host asks you to begin.

- Do not sit down until you are requested to and told where to sit.