Jamaica has a unique culture where humor plays a major role in the way we express ourselves. We hope the collection of articles, stories and folk songs here will give you a brief but real insight on Jamaican Culture. Culture Articles en xaviermurphy@yahoo.com <a href="http://www.globalmoxie.com/">Big Medium Web Content Manager v1.3.7a</a> http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/index.shtml <span class="caption">© Copyright 1995 - 2008. All rights reserved. <a href="http://www.jamaicans.com/about/privacy.shtml"class="caption">Privacy Policy</a> & <a href="http://www.jamaicans.com/about/privacy.shtml" class="caption">Terms of use</a>.</span><br><a href="http://www.billygraham.org/believe/stepsToPeace.asp" target="_new"><img src="http://www.jamaicans.com/images/fish.gif" border="0"></a> Fri, 01 May 2008 17:19:00 GMT I viewed a television program that depicted a gentleman reflecting on his young life during the sixties. Inspiringly, I picked up my diary which I maintained since my elementary school days. My former teacher, Mr. Clark (now a National Commerce Bank senior executive and a major sponsor of Jamaica’s National Volleyball Team), taught us the importance of keeping a diary. Plus, he nudged us to write about our daily activities. Fri, 01 May 2008 03:54:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/OutFryingPanFire.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/OutFryingPanFire.shtml “I was a pretty young gal wen I was young ” said Aunt Hilda, her voice trailing off as she gazed afar – way back into the distant years. It seemed she was reliving every episode of her life. I remained silent, holding a tuft of her hair in my hand, waiting patiently for her to continue. “You’re still beautiful, Aunt Hilda. Even more so now,” I said, trying to bring her back from her journey into time. Fri, 01 May 2008 17:19:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/finaljourney.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/finaljourney.shtml For several years I wanted to return home to Jamaica for another visit, but circumstances keep me from doing so, well that day I wished for finally arrived in which I boarded the Boeing 737 jet, in-route to my homeland. I was happy because I was to see my brothers and sisters, whom I have not seen for quite some time and also my schoolmates. Except for a few bumps on the highway in the sky, the flight was okay. Fri, 01 May 2008 03:54:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/MyTriptoJa072005.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/MyTriptoJa072005.shtml “Many of my friends are talking about making lots of money in currency trading. However, I feel a little nervous about it, because I have seen all the advertisements telling us to be careful how we invest our money. Is investing in foreign exchange trading really legal, and why has it become so popular recently?” Fri, 01 May 2008 03:54:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/makingmoneyforex.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/makingmoneyforex.shtml I was in the fifth grade at Ewarton Primary School. I was a fifth grader who was very accomplished as he was competitive. Throughout my previous years at the school, I have won a nationwide art contest; skipped a grade, and maintained an ‘A’ average. In the fifth grade, I ranked first in my class. Naturally, during the preparation for the annual ‘Class Challenge Quiz’.... Wed, 01 Apr 2008 05:02:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/reflectionsonmyschooldays.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/reflectionsonmyschooldays.shtml Jamaicans are going to have to learn "global" English if they want to prosper in the world of tomorrow. Yes, I enjoy the beauty of Jamaican patois, when it is used to express gentle thoughts, and I acknowledge the power of Jamaican patois when it is used to express anger or frustration. Sat, 04 Apr 2008 16:11:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/ispatoisdoomedinaglo.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/ispatoisdoomedinaglo.shtml The Old Harbour Road is in a mess. Skipping between traffic I make my way over to the other side; trespass through big-nose Buro’s yard and onto the gully bank which leads to Strebor Avenue. Men are already beneath the shed. Wed, 01 Apr 2008 04:54:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/gullybank-part2.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/gullybank-part2.shtml I read of the newly opened bus depot in HWT and it brought to mind the buses of my time. When I lived in Jamaica, JOS was the company that provided bus service throughout the corporate area. Jamaica Omnibus Service or Chi Chi bus as they were called, probably due to the sound heard when the doors were being closed. Needless to say, this was before the name "'chi chi" took on a whole other meaning. Wed, 01 Apr 2008 05:07:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/memoriesofJOS.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/memoriesofJOS.shtml Along the gully bank beautiful concrete homes now replace the1951 Hurricane-Charlie Relief Board-houses. Telephone and hydropower lines run from rooftops to roadside poles and noticeable everywhere are spawning signs of social improvements. This is Homestead, south west St. Catherine, just a mile outside the old capitol, Spanish Town. Sun, 01 Mar 2008 05:57:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/alongthegullybank1.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/alongthegullybank1.shtml Reggae and dancehall in 2007 national and locally lost steam. The riddim-driven albums by VP Records (USA) and Greensleeves (UK) that drove dancehall hits in past years seem to have come to a stand still this year. Creatively it was more of the same and that made room for the new sound of Tarrus Riley and Da’ville whose hits tunes were not riddim driven. Wed, 01 Jan 2008 03:09:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/ReggaeReview2007.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/ReggaeReview2007.shtml Once again its that time of the year when merchants remove ghost and goblets ‘fan-gan dangles’ from racks and shelves and replace them with toys and other yuletide commodities. Store windows now display moving train sets, snow angels, miniature ornaments, creatures, and such delights. Inside the malls, evergreen trees are fully dressed with mountains of presents beneath while mannequins ‘cut pose’ in the latest fashion trends. Tue, 10 Dec 2007 19:43:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/countdowntochrismusabr.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/countdowntochrismusabr.shtml Greetins and Exaltations! Ow is aall mi wanderful folks doin? Ms. Dulcie is mekin hout ar Chrismas list fi de cantankerous granpickney dem. Fi mi grandchilren dem no deserb even a starlight, dem gi me bodderation, so till me feel like sey me a go ave body come down. Sun, 01 Dec 2007 05:24:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/ms-dulcie-sey-sage-dem-du.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/ms-dulcie-sey-sage-dem-du.shtml When I was asked if I would like to go on a mission trip to southwest China, I said “Yes” without hesitation. I did not wonder, what am I going to do? I am not a dentist, a hygienist, nor a dental assistant. Besides, I do not speak Chinese except for “Ni Hao” You see; I believe that it is not enough to just breathe. Sat, 01 Jun 2007 02:26:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/jamaicainfluence.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/jamaicainfluence.shtml When I think of school in Jamaica the first thing that comes to mind are Khaki school uniforms, lunch boxes, and a smiling teacher in the morning to greet you at the end of your trip from home to school. The school I attended in Kingston was a primary school and had an aggregate of students from different walks of life. They were students of different ethnicities and backgrounds, but what made the relationship between the students in my school special was that we were; “out of many one students.” Sat, 01 Jun 2007 02:35:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/schoolinjamaicamemories.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/schoolinjamaicamemories.shtml Getting married is, of course, a rather significant commitment between two people. In Jamaica, the wedding ceremony is an integral part of the celebration, with elaborate plans and large gatherings of family and friends. While many of the old-time traditions are no longer practiced, some have survived the test of time. Wed, 01 May 2007 18:02:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/JamaicanMarriageCustoms.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/articles_culture/JamaicanMarriageCustoms.shtml