jamaican wedding traditions jamaican wedding traditions

Jamaican Wedding | Wellesley & Omeil Walking Down The Aisle, Jamaican Wedding | Curry Goat (Photo Credit: African Bites), It tells you each week about the new information that I have added, including new developments and. Most Jamaican women wear handmade, traditional clothes. In a move to appease the earthly spirits so that the wedding can happened with out any untoward incident, the men would sprinkle rum around the wedden booth. Here's what you can expect. Old-Time Jamaican country wedden' in Gambrill, L. The experts we spoke with shared that in addition to traditions and rituals practiced at Jamaican weddings, there are a few notable superstitions to be aware of. The curry is slow cooked for hours and is packed with flavour. During this procession, locals were allowed speak openly about how pretty (or ugly) the bride looked. The celebration is somewhat similar to Scottish weddings which also include elaborate parades and processions. At the end of Tun Tanks Sunday, the bride and groom usually go to their new home. The Cake. The Rough Guide to Jamaica is full of intriguing nuggets of information about the culture and history of this popular Caribbean island, but we've picked out a few of the most interesting Jamaican traditions for you below. It can also be presented as the main course main entree along with other delights such as jerk pork, escovitch fish, fried plantain, rice and peas and potato or bread pudding. #bypetronella #petronellaphotographuy #cardib #bodakyellow #haitianwedding #fridayvibes #moneymoves #jamaicanwedding #tgif, A post shared by Petronella Photography (@petronellaphotography) on Jan 19, 2018 at 6:43pm PST. To better understand the Jamaican wedding traditions you may consider including in your big day and/or other wedding-related events, we spoke with event planner Roxanne Bellamy and wedding planner and designer Kara-Ann Boyne-Anderson of Petals & Promises Jamaica. You might be thinking of all the wedding flavours there are but I promise you wont guess this one. However , one of the most popular features of a Jamaican wedding certainly is the rum/fruit pastry. Check out Wedding Details for insightful articles and tips on traditions and celebrations. It can often go longer than the original reception and typically takes place immediately after a Sunday mass, making it easy to gather everyone again. A traditional wedding can last up to seven days, here's what you need to know before putting on your dancing shoes. Almost every Jamaican wedding serves goat for dinner, the traditional meal reserved for special occasions. Old time Jamaican weddings in the country were known for their characteristic wedden godmaddas and godfaddas two parent figures chosen by the bride and the groom. In Western culture, the brides father gives her away at the altar. Traditional Jamaican Wedding. As duppies are capable of doing both good and evil, many rituals on the island arose as a way to appease these spirits. Its usually a curried goat that stews for hours. The biggest Jamaican wedding ceremony tradition, explained below, stems from the importance of family in Jamaican culture. Some misconstrued this ritual as only being about money and wealth, but it brings happiness and vitality to the marriage for years to come. If it falls on the ground and break into pieces, your husband will cheat on you throughout your marriage. Live musicians play Jamaican folk music with banjos and guitars while guests dance quadrilles. This tradition is pretty heavy, as its said that if you drop your bouquet and any flowers fall off or break, your husband will cheat on you throughout the marriage, and youll be unhappy. "As a country, Jamaica and Jamaicans love reggae. The groom wore a new suit, and the bride wore a white dress and veil. If there was a divorce in the family, however, only the father walks the bride down the aisle. Your email address will not be published. Although many couples in modern times no longer select the goat themselves, they do still serve it to their guests at the reception. The reception typically lasted until the afternoon with everyone playing games and singing songs. In this article, well go through nine interesting Jamaican wedding traditions that are still practiced today in a few rural areas. It is then killed and used to make the curry which will be served at the reception. The reception, can range anywhere of their choice, starting from an elegant party room, and ending to an outdoor cabana, There are always things that need to be done before the big day! Just as they love rum, Jamaicans can also not do away with their curried goat and rice. People cheer and watch the cake be set down on the cake table. Its possible to have anything from an extremely formal religious ceremony or a simple secular service in modern Jamaica. Jamaican Revivalism is a mix of European and African religious traditions, turned into something uniquely Jamaican. The common dance at the weddings is quadrille, which all the family members, the couple, the maid of honor as well as the best man participate in. We've created informative articles that you can come back to again and again when you have questions or want to learn more! 12. But, lets explore a few of these traditions. One interesting thing to note is that its not uncommon for both the father and mother to walk the bride down the aisle. Relatives and members of the community all had roles in preparing the wedding. Get ready for delicious food on the menu at a traditional Jamaican wedding reception. A traditional wedding in Jamaica typically involved the whole village or community where the couple lived. ? In an old (and now rarely practiced) tradition, villagers would gather around in the street to see the bride who was . Share your passion(about your city, hobby or experience) and make a living from it. Instead of mailed invites, it is a community invitation by way of open doors at the ceremony site welcoming friends, family, and the community to attend. This isnt a problem for many Jamaicans as their backyards can also double as a wedding venue. Jamaican Black Rum Cakeis baked for weddings and carried in procession to the ceremony. Other cake options would be white, chocolate or coconut cake or rum cake. The wedden godfadda, on the other hand would accompany the bride and the bridal party, often on horseback. After the service, they head back home for the second reception. A traditional wedding varies from country to country. Since Jamaica is such a popular destination for marriages, there's a great deal of legal paperwork travelers have to fill out to make their Jamaican wedding dreams a reality. To bring luck and prosperity to the marriage, Jamaican brides will often slip a dime or other coin into the bottom of their shoe. A meticulous chronicle elucidating the events of a typical and traditional Jamaican wedding day can be found in the 1981 Skywritings article written by Miss Lou. The procession of the girls walked through the village from the wedden godmaddas house to the booth singing, chanting all the way and announcing that there is a wedding happening here today. Miss Lou also explains the role of the wedden godfadda who, on the other hand took care of the wedding reception. Privacy Policy & Terms of use. Most tourists dont know anything about old Jamaican wedding traditions. Following the last reception, the newly wedded couple went to their new home and usually remained there for a week. Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)right to your inbox. The cake gets equal treatment to the bride. Even if the ceremony is in the morning, guests will party and dance until the sun comes up. This item has a great significance and traditionally contains lots of fruits and rum. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Jamaica is a popular destination for couples looking for an exotic destination wedding. Gift Your Guests With the Island's Bounty. You might be thinking of all the "wedding" flavours there are but I promise you won't guess this one. Attendees in a procession bring in the cake under a veil to keep it hidden until the time to cut. His role was to help the groom with his suit, organize the right kind of music and drink for the guests. Instead, they choose a person to throw it to. When it comes to partying, a Jamaican wedding takes things up a notch with open invitations and long bouts of dancing. After the "I do's" the marriage certificate is signed by the officiant, bride, groom and witnesses (usually the maid-of-honour and best man). The meat is customarily stewed for hours beforehand so that guests are served the richest, most flavorful curried goat possible. As for the entertainment, ring games and dances on traditional music are planned at the reception. Jamaican Black Rum Cake is a quintessential part of a Jamaican wedding. The bride and groom of course have to have their one last night of freedom! Curried goat or chicken is also very popular at wedding receptions. Guests, whether a part of the culture or not, can experience a rich celebration full of tradition that inspires and uplifts. will be served along with the special Jamaican punch for non-alcoholic drinkers, and wine or champagne for the adults. To better understand the Jamaican wedding traditions you may consider including in your big day and/or other wedding-related events, we spoke with event planner Roxanne Bellamy and wedding planner and designer Kara-Ann Boyne-Anderson of Petals & Promises Jamaica.Bellamy points out that Jamaica is unique in that it is a cultural mecca. Finding a bridal expo can give you the opportunity to address multiple parts of your wedding planning, including food, dresses, and cakes, in one place. "In Jamaica, guests and members of the bridal party are encouraged to stay away from the color black attire as it is usually associated with mourning, funerals and a sign of bad luck," says Anderson. This is known as Tun Tanks Sunday. Obeah practitioners (known as obeah men) can be hired to use their spells and rituals to bring good or bad luck. And consider booking a private tour with us! However, in earlier days, a booth was specifically built from coconut boughs at the grooms house and the reception was planned there. The more the merrier is the mantra, with it being quite common for guests to turn up uninvited. Your wedding venue is the background to your special day. Perhaps I am at that stage in life where all those around me are moving on to the other side and not down the matrimonial aisle. Now, the bride and groom are about to start their big day!! There will always be reggae playing at a wedding reception. With the dominant religionof Jamaica being Christianity, theceremonydoesnt differ much from many western weddings. If youre interested in these pre-colonial Jamaican practices, please read on. You can find white rum, black rum, and everything in the middle! In Jamaica, the more guests there are at the wedding, the better it is. Some Jamaican wedding traditions and rituals ward off evil spirits and bring good luck, but they are mostly about celebrating the love and commitment of the new couple with delicious food and sweet rum. Kingston: Ian Randle Publishers. Also, at least 30 days before your wedding ceremony, you must send your wedding venue paperwork such as birth certificates, a valid photo ID, and (if necessary) divorce paperwork. The Business of Marriage : Memoirs Of An Illegal Alien Part 37. The traditional Jamaican wedding cake is not the average wedding cake. Share this awesome content with your friends now. Obeah is a belief system that is officially outlawed, although nowadays it's rare for anyone to be convicted for adhering to the practices. Hopefully this list has helped you understand and have a greater respect for Jamaican culture. It is also decorated with different types of tropical flowers to resemble the beaches, and the beauties of the country itself. The mother and father of the bride walk their daughter down the aisle to give her away to her new husband. 11. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Pieces of the Past by Dr. Rebecca Tortello. The top layer of the wedding cake was given to the minister who performed the ceremony, and the second layer went to the newlyweds. Traditional Jamaican wedding cakes are steeped with rum, moist and flavorful as they contain dried fruit that has been soaked in rum for a year or more. In such a case, the bride has to go back and put her make-up in place, so as to look more presentable and attractive! Lets take a look at Digicel Jamaica, explore its features and services. If the ceremony was held in a church, it usually followed the form of an English wedding. All you need is flour, salt, butter, shortening, water, coconuts, and brown sugar. Traditional weddings required elaborate preparations, including the cooking of vast amounts of food and several cakes. Guests are encouraged to stay the nighteven those of the community. But their work is still not over. The groom and his side of the party, will normally go to the best mans home, and get ready and may have a beer or two to take the weight of the grooms shoulders. As the procession reached the reception yard, the cakes would be placed on the wedding table to be kept in the booth, till wedden godmadda returned from the church where she had accompanied the groom. But the traditional Jamaican wedding cake, is decorated with either a pearly white buttercream frosting, or a pearl white fondant. Back when Jamaica was a more agrarian society, the newlyweds would be excused from working in the fields for at least a week. Before the ceremony, ring games were played, and people dined on the wide array of foods available. But a Jamaican beach wedding calls for the groom to embrace casualness - khaki shorts or trousers with floral shirts or button front shirts teamed with sandals or flip flops; however many couples go sans footwear (aww . While people are dancing the wedden godfadda would cut the show bread. During that time I have attended more funerals than I care to think about, but not one wedding. As you can see, Jamaican weddings are mostly about having fun and enjoying some incredible food! In Jamaica, weddings tend to be huge events that bring together the entire community. Simply put, no Jamaican wedding isnt complete without at least a few bottles of this island nectar. The favors are typically Jamaican treats! At the wedding, the cake is cut and the top layer is given to the officiant, the second layer is for the bride and groom (for their first anniversary) and all other layers are shared with the guests. 6 Phrases Jamaican Men Say When Theyre Really 10 Items A Barrel Shipped to Jamaica from Foreign 7 Interesting facts about the Irish Influence in How Much do you Know About These 7 Amazing Leaf of 20 Jamaican Mango Names You May Not Know About. Also, if the bride and groom are of different cultures, there would normally be two cakes. But in Jamaica, giving away the bride is more of a family affair. Look, I don't dance now. So I don't know about anyone else, but since I am getting married in Jamaica, I would love to incorporate some Jamaican traditions. Finding it difficult to find a reception venue? Although many Jamaican death rituals are dying out nowadays, the Nine Nights ritual is still going strong its an extended wake that lasts nine days and traditionally involves music, anecdotes, lots of food, and plenty of rum. For drink, usually theres plenty of rum and rum punch to whet everyones whistle. Here are 4 waterfalls nearby that are worth a visit. After the wedding, the bride, groom, and the parties will go to the reception venue, and meet the other guests. Friends and relatives begin sending presents long before the "big day". When you think of a wedding, the cake seems like the cherry on top of your dream event. This was followed by, according to Miss Lou, the final ceremony where the wedden godmadda would hold the brides right hand while the wedden godfadda would hold the grooms and say in unison the following words: We hand you over to one another, go and live like Isaac and Rebecca.. Togetherness is the idea here and it creates a strong camaraderie among friends, family, and unfamiliar guests alike. The caked placed in the center would have 3 tiers each of which would be covered with white cloths and carried on the head. The Nine Nights ritual was traditionally practised to ensure the dead persons duppy did not come back to haunt the living. After death, one of the souls goes up to heaven and the other stays on earth. While not formally a part Jamaican wedding traditions, oftentimes guests bake the delicacygizzadafor a reception dessert. This gesture is to offer gratitude to God for the marriage. So hopefully, the bridesmaids have quick hands. On the Sunday after the wedding, which is known as Tun Tanks Sunday, the wedding party went to church, and after services, visited the home of the brides parents for a second reception. Some modern Jamaican couples opt to have smaller weddings, but this is rarer, as the Jamaican culture is very inviting and focused on community. Bridal Styling/Wedding Coordination@vaingloriousbrides Photography@bypetronellaHair@nicky_b_on_hairMakeup@irobincredibleand@curly_kinky_sueBridesmaids Styling:@BrideHive Bridesmaids Dresses: @whiterunwayMirrored Decor@ten23designsEvent/Floral Design@divablooms. A Jamaican Wedding is therefore a traditional Christian wedding which can be a white wedding or more colourful one based on bride/groom's preferences. Copyright Wedessence & Buzzle.com, Inc. Although modern-day Jamaicans dont practice the traditions as strictly as their ancestors did, everyone in Jamaica has great respect for their heritage. While the food was getting prepared, according to Miss Lou, the bride and groom would seek various marriage-related counseling and advice from the wedden godparents. Nevertheless, if you are planning to hold a Jamaican wedding, here are some of the interesting wedding traditions, that you can include in it. We may also earn commissions on purchases from other retail websites. This reception is often open to the community and those loved ones who couldn't make the wedding," says Anderson. ? No parts of this Hand-clapping and percussion are an important part of Jamaican Revivalist ceremonies mauricioalvesfotos / Shutterstock. If you attend a wedding in Jamaica, you can expect no shortage of reggae music. A dime placed in the bride's shoe on the day of the wedding will bring wealth and prosperity to couple. Rich, Caribbean culture at its finest, Jamaican traditions spice up the festivities, add a new respect for cake, and keep the party going until dawn. Relatives of the couple and members of the community all had roles in preparing for the ceremony. The couple signs the wedding certificate, during the ceremony, to officially declare themselves as man and wife. Jamaican phrases - Real Examples (with a bit of history), The Colonial History of Jamaica | The Pieces We Tend Not To Talk About, Vegetarian Restaurants in Jamaica| 12 Top Choices Across the Island, Digicel Jamaica | The Bigger, Better Network, Scuba Diving in Ocho Rios Jamaica | 9 Dive Sites You Should Explore, Waterfalls in Negril Jamaica | 4 Waterfalls Near the Capital of Casual. The curry is slow cooked for hours and is packed with flavour. (Ed.) What is considered bad luck on your wedding day? Here are six Jamaican wedding traditions you may not know about. for the fianc on the American side of the wedding, Now, moving on with the foods served at the traditional Jamaican wedding reception for the guests. Traditionally, the person will be buried after the ninth night, once the celebrations have finished. The fact that some obeah men take money for their services means they are sometimes accused of preying on the vulnerable by profiting from their superstitious beliefs and poverty. Jamaican traditions are often a mix of African and European customs modified and adapted over the years to create the unique Jamaican culture that exists today. . Its truly a magical cake. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. They stood according to height, with the shortest girl walking front alone wearing white and the tallest girl alone, at the end of the queue in black. site may be reprodiced without our written permission. "The aromatic spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg and dried fruits used to make the cake are soaked in rum for the entire length of the engagement," says Anderson. Or, simplyclick hereand here,to browse my library of over 500 questions and answers! Use this to your advantage by dropping stones and matches along as you walk along a darkened, lonely road. The More, the Merrier. But before the lovely couple can be bonded in wedlock, they need a few documents that need to be sent to their wedding event coordinator. "The first Sunday immediately following the wedding is called the 'Tun T-anks Day' (Turn Thanks Day) when the newly-wed couple accompanied by their godparents as well as the entire wedding party would go to the church where the wedding had taken place and attend service. On day two, food, cake and rum flow even more than before. In case youve never heard of it before, a gizzada is a crisp pastry usually with coconut filling. If you are on social media, here are the links to follow his latest posts: You are also invited tojoin his exclusive JAMHearts communitywhere like-minded Jamaican enthusiasts discuss all things Jamaican. With regard to attire, Bellamy adds that "if the couple is not having a cultural wedding celebration, it is most likely the wedding will resemble that of an English wedding celebration (white wedding dress and veil and a suit or tuxedo).". Prior to the 1800s, it was considered good luck to simply . According to her, the wedden godmadda would rise early on the wedding day and wore a starched white apron accompanied by a colorful bandana-plain head tie. Kingston: Twin Guinep Publishers, (pp.510-511),The Story of the Jamaican people. Many people travel to Jamaica as a vacation place, but it is very likely for the people that reside there to go to a wedding every once in a while for a friend, or family member. Did you know that in a Jamaican wedding, the cake is not white, but dark in color? Jamaican weddings take that idea even further by giving the cake a progression of its own. Traditionally, the reception is held in a marquee in the backyard of the groom. In appetizers one may have jerk chicken wings of jerk chicken kebabs. Today, modern couples seek help from wedding consultants or planners, but in the past, planning responsibilities were taken on by those who lived near the couple and knew them well. A pair of comfortable dancing shoes are a necessity. A Lucky Dime. Check out The Rough Guide to Jamaica to find out more about Jamaica's fascinating culture, and start planning your perfect trip to this Caribbean paradise. The drinks which were offered to the wedding guests would consist of cane liquor, rum, wine and ginger beer. One of the most interesting Jamaican wedding traditions is called Tun Tanks Sunday. These trendy outfit changes are just as good as the original gowns. The food for any wedding indicates the heart and soul of the couples culture. Nowadays anyone can try a Jamaican wedding cake for themselves using arecipeon the Internet. 3. Most of the Jamaican weddings are community affairs, in which anybody and anyone is invited to enjoy the feast. One of the most important factors of a Jamaican wedding, is the cake. Copyright Simbis Inc.All rights reserved. Read more. In addition to curried goat, jerk chicken is often a staple on a Jamaican wedding menu. August 27, 2022 by Erin Krespan. Please help me get the message out by sharing this article with your friends on social media (links below). Both before and after the wedding, everyone in town was welcome to join in the reception festivities. While marriage is about you and your soon-to-be spouse, it's also a time to honor the family that raised you. Jamaican weddings take that idea even further by giving the cake a progression of its own. Now, this is still done but the veil is removed by the mothers of the bride and groom. Curried goat, though, is a special Jamaican tradition that carries over from generations of local use. Chances are someone already asked (and got an answer to) your question. Click Here to see how. Are there Ubers in Jamaica? In earlier times, "the bride and groom would take a trip to the family farm to choose a goat to be curried (slow cooked in a blend of different spices such as cumin, coriander, mustard, anise, all spice and turmeric) for their wedding reception. Traditional Jamaican dress is actually a derivative of the clothing worn by people during the eighteenth century, with the influences being both European and African.Such clothing, once common across the Caribbean, can be identified through local variations between the islands.Here, Culture Trip takes a closer look at the traditional clothing of Jamaica. The following steps will need to be taken to acquire a minister's (marriage) license in Jamaica: 1. While curried goat is often the main dish, they utilize the entire goat, so other standard Jamaican wedding menu items are goat head soup and jerk goat. 7. The Wedding Cake. It is perhaps the tradition most closely rooted in African cultures the Kumina religious group came originally from the Congo. 2. This is another event that can last all night. SOURCES: Bennett, L. (2003). Millions of couples around the world choose Jamaicas beautiful beaches for their wedding ceremonies every year. Truly . The wedden table was usually adorned with ferns, flowers like bougainvillea, and seasonal fruits. But they are noted for their traditional customer of making rum/fruit cake for the wedding guests and sometimes frozen varieties during the first wedding anniversary. Many families begin soaking the cake immediately after the engagement! Along with the goat, you can expect many tropical fruits like pineapples and mangoes to be part of every dish. He invites you to subscribe to this siteto stay updatedon all the latest and check out hisunique Jamaican products onhis e-store. As mentioned above, youll only find Jamaican wedding traditions practiced in less urbanized areas where village ties are still vitally important.