Jamaican memoir

Here is a video that was sent to me, and I thought it only fitting to post it here. Also went to the DutchPot restaurant took some pictures of some memoirs they had on display; these are below.

If you have any memoirs that were not reflected here don't hesitate to post a link below.

Here is another tribute to Jamaica land we love.

Many are the tributes to Jamaica. Big up land we love.

We made it

Jamaican Religion

Contrary to what many may think, Rastafarianism is not the official religion of the Island. It may have been the religion that made the Island famous, i.e. because this was the religion of the late Bob Marley as he traveled the world; however, the is not the religion of Jamaica.

Bob may very well be responsible for reggae music becoming the island's iconic sound.

Nevertheless, the island is actually pre-dominantly Christian. There is a multiplicity of denominations but all are generally Christian. 

Here are there you might find a Muslim or two, and in recent times other religions have been infiltrating the Jamaican culture.

Since Jamaica also has a rich Chinese heritage, it would be amiss of me not to mention that there are a number of Buddhists on the island.

Do you agree with my evaluation of religion on the island? If not, leave a comment below.

Jamaican Landmarks

Jamaica is truly an interesting place. Was doing a project recently and during the discussion it came up that there should be a website listing landmarks. I'm going to have to google this one. I have an idea about a few, but I don't know them all, if you could help me out here I would be grateful. List them with their parishes, if known. I came across this one, and thought I simply had to show it. It is a really old bridge that spans between two parishes. If you know the answer leave it in the comments section below. Usually on the way from town to country, this bridge represented that you were close to your destination.

Jamaican Card games

Playing cards was one of my favorite pass times during the summer as a child. It was right up there with swinging from the trees and shooting birds and lizards with my slingshot. These may not be exclusively Jamaican, but I think most Jamaicans would agree that these games were well-known children's games.

You may think these games are common, but for the generation coming up these games are foreign, and if we aren't careful they will soon be forgotten,

Although the following games require a standard 52 deck card pack, not all the cards may be needed/used for each game.  I have included the rules for some of them.

If I have missed any games please feel free to jot them down here, or if you know any tricks and twists to existing games, please share.

Another interesting post on this blog is Jamaican ring games

Games

1) 3-ah-Card
2)Tief'n Cassie
3)Strip me.
4)D.O.N.K.E.Y.-1
5)D.O.N.K.E.Y.-2
6)Go Fish
7)Gin
8)Rommey
9)Tonk

Game-1

3-A Card

Rules

Each player is given 3 cards, then the dealer places one card face up. (players may look at their cards)The order of the games in voted on, whether clockwise or anticlockwise and each player takes turns in that fashion.

Each turn: If a person has a card in their hand matching the one that is face-up they would drop that card on top of the face-up card and then chose another from the other two in their hand and drop one.

This would be repeated until all cards are used up.

Each Turn: If there are no matching cards in the player's hand they would pick one from the deck, and drop it face up. The player has first dibs on the card played. If not wanted play moves to the next player until the card is desired i.e. a player has a matching card or all have refused the card. If no one has a matching card then the next player in line picks a card from the deck.

Who wins: The person who gets rid of all their cards first wins.

Game

Tief'n Cassie

Rules

All players are given 4 cards. The dealer then deals 4 cards face up. (players may look at their cards) The objective of the game is to get as many pairs as possible.

Each player takes a turn taking up cards from the ones face up with the ones in their hand. Each player can only play one card at a time to take up a pair.

Each time a pair is collected it goes to the top of the pile that the player has. The pairs must be turn face up on the pile. If player A has a matching card to the pair that was picked up by player B, player A has the right to steal all the pairs that player B has collected. (thus the name).

If a third player C has a matching card then the entire stack can be stolen from player A.i.e what player A took from player B, and then all the pairs that player A has collected.

who wins: Player with the most pairs when all 52 cards have been used wins 

Game

Strip me.

Rules

Players are evenly distributed cards, usually two players for this game. Only face cards (J,Q,K) and Aces have power.

Aces= 4 cards
K= 3 cards
Q=2cards
J=1 card

(players may not look at their cards)The players take a turn in placing a card face up until a power card is played.

On the next turn, the player pays up the power card. Unless another power card is played during payment. The previous payment is canceled and it now becomes the other player's turn to pay.

If no other power card is played, then the person who drops the last power card picks up all the other cards.

Who wins: The person retaining all the cards wins the game.

Game

1-D.O.N.K.E.Y.

Rules

Usually played with 4 people, may be played with more. (players may look at their cards) All the face cards and Aces (or other cards if more than 4 players) are removed from the pack. These become the playing cards. The whole deck is not needed for this game.

Each player is given 4 cards and the dealer starts by passing one card to the left/right.

The objective of the game is to get 4 of a kind and then drop your card as fast as the dealer or person passing the first card gets their card back.

The last person to drop gets a letter from the word "donkey"

Who wins: The person with the least amount of letters wins, and the person with all the letters in donkey loses. The other players compete for the second -third-etc places, dependent on how many players there are.

To enhance this game, I have seen where the loser gives a piggyback ride to all the players. Hence the name Donkey.

Game

2-D.O.N.K.E.Y.

Rules

Usually played with 2 players, may be more though. (players may look at their cards) A card is taken and hidden from the deck. Then all the cards are dealt to the players. Each player removes the pairs from their hand, and then take a turn to pull cards from other players hands. If a pair is achieved that pair is removed from their hand. If not the card is retained.

Who wins: The player stuck with the none matching card, get a letter out of the word "donkey." The player with the least amount of letters wins, and the player with all the letters in donkey loses. The other players compete for the second -third-etc places, dependent on how may players there are.

Game

Go Fish

Rules

Players

Jamaican Obeah man

In addition to the stories and the superstitions. We have some legitimate stories of people talking to people who have contact with the other side. These people are usually called obeah-man/woman,witch-doctor, voodoo man etc.

If you have any stories about such contacts, jot them down here.

Jamaican Duppy Stories

There is bound to be a whole bunch of these. I know growing up as a child in the country this was what kept the night interesting. There was no tv, and hardly any radio, but there was always story time.

Some people will swear upon their lives that some of these stories are true, if you know any such stories, jot them down here.

Let me start with a story I heard as a child you be the judge.

So it was late one night and this was in the country where street lights seem like they are a mile apart. There is an old road called 'Valley', where it is said that a boy was playing in a tree and fell out and died. His spirit would haunt the street. At least so the story goes.

As a result no one would be on that street at night.

It so happened that my father was walking home alone one fateful night and had to pass under  the infamous tree. Now my father claimed there was no such thing as ghost or duppy so he was walking boldly up the street.

With nothing but the stars and the moon as light, the closer he got to the tree, he started uncomfortable and his heart began to race. He consoled himself by telling himself there was no such thing, but that consolation seemed hardly to work the closer he got to the tree.

Not wanting to show any signs of fear, he did not walk any faster or slower as he approached the tree, but he could not control his breathing. His heart was just pounding out of his chest.

Finally he was under the tree, and fate would have it that  something would fall out of the tree and hit him on his shoulder.

Whether it was a leaf, a piece of stick or the infamous duppy, my father never stayed long enough to find out. He said that the speed at which he peeled out from under that tree, he must have left boot marks on the ground.
_________________________________________________________________________

More  Duppy stories

https://www.yourghoststories.com/ghost-stories-countries.php?country=JM&page=1