Jamaican Culture
Granny Gheeta's Vision: Preview of Things To Come My Granny Gheeta was a woman of many talents, however, her most famous contribution to our family was her skillfulness of having visions. During her lifetime, Granny had visions on every subject under the sun. From going to the market, to her female Grandchildren being in the "family way".
Granny Ghetta Talks about The Birds & The Bees Old Fashioned Jamaicans are known for their British reserved manner and ambivalence to discuss certain private matters as if it were ordinary news. Therefore, most parents find themselves in a "pickle" when they have to discuss such subjects as Adolescence, Sexuality and Sex.
Granny Gheeta and I Discuss Political Turmoil People say that Politics makes the world go round, however, in today's tumultuous political arena it is difficult for nations to find suitable leaders, who offer solutions to their governmental maladies. Granny and I often discussed the ills that plagued the world and one of the subjects we often talked about was Leadership. She felt that quality was lacking in today's Leaders because they always seemed self serving.
Granny Story: A woman's virtue is never for sale Many people say that everyone has a price. However, I find that statement to be disconcerting because it insinuates that people can be bought. It extinguishes the hope that individuals are integrable and cannot be discounted by anyone or circumstances.
Granny Story: "What is Granny Gheeta Wearing Today?" We all have those moments when our parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles embarrass us with their affinity to old, worn out garments or peculiar ways of dressing. The socks with the holes, they refuse to discard, or the loud tie they hold dear because it has sentimental value, or their eccentric ways of dressing, in order to display their individuality."
Granny Story: The Night at Ms. San Tropez's House Everyone is familiar with the phrase "Home is where the heart is", however, this saying rings true especially when one has visited away from their domain and the experience leaves them with a new found appreciation for the comforts and solace of their dwelling space.
Granny Gheeta and Quality Control A trait that most Jamaicans are known for is their exceptional discernment when it comes to quality. Whether it be quality of workmanship, goods and services, one could say, that Jamaicans are obsessed with achieving and maintaining the best things in life.
Granny Story: Granny Gheeta's Tale of The Publicans" In Jamaica, paying taxes is an arduous but necessary event. Folks rarely make a big deal about the task, primarily because they are not subjected to filing tax returns. They pay taxes on their land, property and water, usually at the end of each year.
Granny Gheeta's Views on Chastising Other Peoples' Children Every parent likes to think that they have a prize cow in all their children, the world's best behaved children. However those utopian thoughts are soon doused at the first hint of criticism spewd by their family members, associates or peers. Granny Gheeta was the expert on such matters, especially since she had a "hush-hush" policy when it came to chastising other peoples' children.
"What If Granny Gheeta Skins Her Teeth?" In Jamaica most children are very fond of their elderly relatives, primarily because they take the time to listen to their concerns and they refrain from casting judgement, remembering that they too, were once young and carefree. Growing up in Jamaica, and having a grandmother like Granny Gheeta made for very interesting times. As most younger children can relate, once an older relative approaches certain birthdays, we start to think of them as being very ancient.
Granny Gheeta Speaks Beyond The Grave We are living in times of uncertainty and chaos, partly because the world has been lead astray by well meaning leaders, and partly because most people who inhabit the world, don't really care about good stewardship or governance.
Granny Gheeta Questions, "Where Is My Grandchild?" Every parent experiences moments of frantic at one time or another regarding the whereabouts of their child or children. Whether it is a school bus ride gone awry or children losing their way. Childhood has its way of creating panic within families.
Granny Gheeta and the Ghost of Mrs. Podmajah Jamaican culture is filled with tales of wonderful folklore. Anansi and "duppy" stories help to create a legacy that is rich in history and sinister happenings.. A national pastime of older Jamaicans is sitting down and talking about the dearly departed. Their banter usually includes how many times they had sightings of the dead person, the dreams they had concerning them, and the most morbid details of reliving the day when they were buried.
Granny Gheeta's Night at The Mall The Holidays are always a hectic time of year for most people around the world. Although most Grannies pride themselves on staying ahead of the chaotic holiday rush, there are times when tradition has to be broken to add a little Holiday Spirit. My Granny always scolded me about the Western World and how important it was to stay true to my heritage. She disliked certain pastimes of western culture, such as hanging out, going to the mall and talking slang.
Granny Gheeta's Observations on Food Preparation Granny Gheeta was a woman who enjoyed good food, family and friends, and although she liked entertaining at home, she also enjoyed the occasional night out at a favorite restaurant, or Brunch at a nice cafe'. Granny Gheeta was a person that most would call a "finicky eater".
Granny and I: Granny Gheeta's Views on Hoarding In today's society a label is placed on every idiosyncratic behaviour that a human being possesses, however some of these labels have no bearing on sensible human practices. One of my Granny's most eccentric behaviours was saving for a "rainy" day.
Granny Gheeta and the Fric and Frac Syndrome Many say love is a very splendored thing, however my Granny had differing views when it came to matters of the heart. She felt that two people should be well-suited for each other and that it was important that they were going in the same direction and not taking each other off their predestined course.
Granny and I: Granny Gheeta and The Fric and Frac Drama Many say love is a very splendored thing, however my Granny had differing views when it came to matters of the heart. She felt that two people should be well-suited for each other and that it was important that they were going in the same direction and not taking each other off their predestined course.
Granny and I: Granny Gheeta and the Engagement of Madame Bhangrasang's Daughter This is a Indo-Jamaican story that I am sure most people can relate to because it pertains to family life and the bethrothal of young ladies within the family unit. My Granny Gheeta was a woman of discerning taste, she knew a lot of people, however she only called a selected few her true friends. Madame Bhangrasang was one of them.
Granny and I: #1 Member of The Rigid Old Timers Club Most youngsters view their Grandparents as easy going and usually compliant with all their antics, however , this was not the situation with Granny Gheeta. Although she enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren, she had limitations and boundaries.
Granny and I: Granny Gheeta Talks about Crime in Jamaica Granny Gheeta spent most of her life living in Kingston, where she was surrounded by the flow of a metropolis; as well as the changing conditions of a country under siege by criminals. Granny spent most of her time in the house conducting her daily chores or going to the market to buy produce for meal preparation.
Granny and I: The Apparitions of Granny Gheeta My Granny Gheeta and I have been connected through the universe, visions and dreams for as long as I can remember. When I was five years old and felt myself thrown into the midst of emotional trauma, she would appear to me in visions directing me how to make myself feel better by connecting with the hobbies and pastimes that brought me joy.
Granny Gheeta Offers Comfort: Feeling Displaced
Blame it on DNA, however there is a lot to be said about children who are bi-racial or possess two or more heritages. In my life, the most prominent gene that seems to have its gravitational pull, is being Indian.
The art of being Indian prompts me to seek my higher self and to be true to my standards and beliefs. Sometimes this is not always easy for me because it often leaves me with feelings of being displaced or feeling "different".
Granny & I : "Something Borrowed" Every woman dreams of one day wearing the much coveted, flowing white dress. the dress itself is often the main reason why so many ladies opt for a fancy wedding. They want to be the center of attention , if only for a day. Truthfully, the ceremony should be designed to accommodate the dress. The dress sets the theme and tone of the wedding.
Granny & I : "Stop Chasing the World!" Most people say that youth is wasted on the young, primarily because they are full of energy and zest. Young adults and teenagers tend to waste all their positive energies on people and things that turn out not to be worth their while.
Granny and I talk about New Beginnings As the New Year approaches many people are giving thoughts to making their lives better and deleting people and patterns that no longer serve their lives in a positive manner. Although much has been said about New Beginnings, I have found that Jamaicans are extremely committed to relinquishing their old lifestyles in order to make way for new and improved, transformed lives.
Granny & I : The Half and Half Holidays! Holidays are a time to embrace family and friends, while enjoying the best of the festivities. In Jamaica Christmas time is revered as one of the most sacred Holidays on the calendar. One month before Christmas, most Jamaican cooks begin soaking fruits like raisins and plums for the Christmas cakes and pastries they will make before the Holiday Season commences.
Granny and I Talk about the “D” word. Jamaicans tend to abbreviate many topics that are of a precarious nature, by only mentioning the first letter of the word they are trying to discuss. As a child there were two words that were always used very carefully and that was the “C” word, which was short for Cancer and the “D” word which was an abbreviation for Depression.
Granny & I Story: Surviving The Big Chill My Grandmother died many years ago, however, her and I still share intimate conversations with each other. Even beyond the grave my Grandmother somehow manages to soothe my ruffled spirits when the “world” has aggravated and distressed me.
Granny & I - Daughter-in-Laws and Raising Children A lot has been said about raising children in modern day society, however as far as my Grandmother was concerned, the old-fashioned way, was the right way and the only way to raise a child. In today’s society where so many children go astray with drugs, alcohol and truancy, it has become more important than ever to resort to old-fashioned values and principles.
The Best Laid Plans…………. A Special Granny Story During the many years that my Grandmother was alive we spoke of many subjects. Because of her interesting views on life I have been able to gain insight on a multitude of topics.
Granny Gheeta and I talk about the power of the dead and dearly departed The Caribbean culture is filled with mysticism, folklore and a great deal of superstition. Many believe these ideologies are “mullarkey” and just the ravings of “country people”. Jamaica’s mystique has gained notoriety, partly because of its tales of ghosts, witches and bedlam.
Granny and I realize it’s a Mad, Mad World out there!
Once people arrive at certain ages they tend to be mellow and calm. Perhaps it is because they have experienced so many events in their lives, that the years have given them a reference in order to decipher the melodramas from the mini-dramas. My Granny was one of those people who did not let petty people or their actions bother her. She felt as long as God was on her side, they all could eat dust and die.
Granny & I tackle the complexity of Infertility From the time a girl is born in Jamaica, she is groomed to take on the role of wife and mother. Regardless of her academic accomplishments, a young woman is expected to take on the task of being a matriarch of her own family.
Granny & I discuss a Taboo Subject: Obeah in Jamaica
Obeah is a topic that not too many people openly discuss in the Caribbean. Most people only mention the word when they feel that something isn’t quite right in their lives.When I was growing up in Jamaica, I would often hear the word being thrown around in conversations, but it was always used as a joke or to scare someone who was being a bully.
Granny declares, "Babies are not playthings!"
Many remarks have been made about caring for babies. Some have been old wives’ tales,
while others are mere conjecture, a result of modern research and technology.
My Granny loved babies.
Granny and I talk about Childhood Infectious Disease
A lifestyle in Jamaica provided children with a good education , picturesque atmospheres, as well as strict principles and social mores.
However, part of growing up and going to school in Jamaica also included being immunized against infectious diseases such as polio, smallpox, measles and chicken pox. Because most Caribbean Scientists believed that in warmer climates, germs and bacteria tend to spread like wild fires. During the ‘70’s there was an outbreak of polio and everyone was panic stricken.
A Conversation with Granny: History of Jews in Jamaica
When Foreigners think of the Caribbean they mostly think of people of color, however, after many travels and research they realize that the Caribbean consists of many different nationalities and cultures. Jamaica is no exception.
Granny’s Sister Has A “MeltDown” Granny had three sisters and each one had a strong personality, not one of them was easy lead a stray by anyone’s tom-foolery or shenanigans. However, when Granny’s Sister Emma found out one of her sons was marrying an older woman, who did not come from his same heritage. She alerted the family council and then decided to have a “meltdown”.
