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

10) I declare war

11) That is B.S.

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.

I'm not even sure this is played anymore, say below if you play this game and how often,

Game -2

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.

While it is obvious why this is named the way it is, I wonder who was the first to name it especially since Jamaicans have a way about naming things. I wonder is this is the official name or just a name picked up along the way.

Game-3

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.

Very popular among dating couples. I wonder if it is still used as a flirting game?

Game-4

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-5

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.

Not sure why this one was called "donkey" maybe for the same reason as the one before. Free rides on a persons back.

Game-6

Go Fish

Go Fish is a classic set-collection card game for 2 to 6 players. The goal is to collect the most four-of-a-kind sets (called "books") by asking other players for matching rank cards.

Core Overview

Metric	Details
Players	2 to 6 players
Deck	Standard 52-card deck (no jokers)
Objective	Collect and lay down the most 4-of-a-kind sets (books)

Setup & Deal

1. Shuffle the deck.
   
   
2. Deal the hands:
   
   
   • 2 Players: Deal 7 cards to each player.
     
     
   • 3 to 6 Players: Deal 5 cards to each player.
     
     
3. Place the remaining cards face down in the center of the table to form the draw pile (the "Ocean" or "Pond").
   
   

Gameplay Rules

The player to the left of the dealer goes first, and turns move clockwise.

1. Ask a Specific Player: On your turn, choose any player and ask them for a specific rank of card (e.g., "Sarah, do you have any Fives?").
   
   
   • Rule: You must hold at least one card of the rank you are asking for in your hand.
     
     
2. Hand Over Cards or "Go Fish":
   
   
   • If the player has cards of that rank: They must give you all of those cards. You get another turn to ask any player for a card.
     
     
   • If the player has zero cards of that rank: They say, "Go Fish!" You must draw one card from the draw pile.
     
     
3. Drawing from the Ocean:
   
   
   • If the card you draw matches the rank you asked for, show it to the group. Your turn continues, and you get to ask again.
     
     
   • If the card is anything else, your turn ends, and play passes to the left.
     
     
4. Making a Book:
   
   
   • As soon as you collect all 4 cards of a single rank (e.g., four Jacks), place the complete set face up on the table in front of you.
     
     

Winning the Game

Play continues until all 13 books (4 of each rank, Aces through Kings) have been collected or the draw pile and hands are empty. The player with the most completed sets in front of them wins.

Game-7

Gin-Jamaucan style- usually called "Gin Rummy" is a super fun card game for two players. It’s all about collecting matching sets of cards in your hand while trying to get rid of the "dead weight."

Here is how you play, step-by-step!

The Goal of the Game

Your main goal is to collect cards that go together (called "melbs" or  "sets") and get rid of the points in your hand that don't fit.

 The Deal

You use a standard 52-card deck (no jokers).

Each player gets 10 cards. (in Jamaica it is 7 cards)

Place the leftover cards face down in the middle—this is the Stock pile.

Turn the very top card of the Stock pile face up right next to it—this starts the Discard pile.

3. What Cards Go Together?

To win, you want your cards to form two types of groups:

Books (or Sets): 3 or 4 cards of the exact same rank (like three 7s or four 10s), but in different suits.

Runs: 3 or more cards in a row of the "same suit" (like the 4, 5, and 6 of Hearts).

* *Note:** Aces are low! An Ace can connect with a 2 and 3, but it cannot connect with a King and Queen.

Any card in your hand that is not part of a Run or a Set is called a "deadwood card" and is replaced.

4. How to Play a Turn

On your turn, you always do two things:

1. **Draw:** Take one card. You can either take the top unknown card from the **Stock pile**, or the face-up card from the **Discard pile**.

2. **Discard:** Look at your 11 (8) cards, pick one card you don't want, and throw it face-up onto the Discard pile.

 5. Knocking or Going "Gin"

The game keeps going back and forth until one player decides to end the round. You can do this when your "deadwood" (leftover, unmatched cards) adds up to **10 points or less**. (not used in the jamaican version - you had to have a run a set to win with the Jamaican version. I guess the game could be continued normally with the other rules, but it is not usually continued.)

Here is how points work for leftover cards:

* Face cards (Kings, Queens, Jacks) = **10 points** each.

* Number cards = Their exact number value (an 8 is 8 points, a 3 is 3 points).

* Aces = **1 point**.

When your leftover deadwood is 10 points or less, you can **"Knock"** at the end of your turn instead of discarding normally.

* **Going Gin (The Best Win!):** If you have **zero** deadwood leftover (meaning every single card in your hand is part of a valid Run or Set), you can yell **"Gin!"**. This gives you a massive bonus!

6. Counting the Score

Once someone knocks or yells Gin:

1. Both players lay all their cards face-up on the table so everyone can see their Sets and Runs.

2. If the person who knocked went **Gin**, they automatically win extra bonus points!

3. If they just "knocked" (meaning they had deadwood worth 10 points or less), both players add up their leftover deadwood points.

* **The twist:** If the person who *didn't* knock has deadwood points that are equal to or lower than the knocker's points, it's called an **"undercut,"** and they steal the win!

Keep playing multiple rounds until one player reaches **100 total points** to win the whole game!

Game-8

Rules

Players

Game-9

Tonk

Rules

Players

Game-10

10) I declare war

Very similar to strip me except if players play the same value card (Aces. Jacks, Queens or Kings) then the would put down 3 cards face down and then the 4th face up. (both players would make the chant "I declare war" dropping a card for each syllable putting down the 4th card on "war." Whoever has the highest card wins the entire stack.

The objective is to strip everyone of all their cards.

If the same card is shown face up the ritual is continued until a higher card is played.

The objective of the game is to get all cards from all players.

This game is usually played between 2 people but it can be played with up to 4 players.

With the 4 player version  Players take turns throwing down one face up card for a round. Where each player gets one turn for the round. The player that puts doen the highest value card  (Aces. Jacks, Queens or Kings) for the round gathers all the cards for the round.

If no value cards are played another round is played, and contunies until value cards come up.

If two consecutive players put down the same value cards, they delare war on each other for the deck.

If a player does not hae enough cards to declare that is automatic victory for the player that has the cards.

Game-11

 That is B.S.or just plain BS

Players 2- 6

Rules

deal out all the cards among players of standard 52 card deck. 

Usually all the cards are dealt out. Players are allowed to look at their cards. Players take turns playing, calling out their cards as they place them face down. If someone suspects that the cards placed on the deck are not what the player says they are. They shout (B.S.!!) if the person was telling the truth all the cards have to be taken up by the one yelling BS!! However, if the cards were not what the player said they were, then the offending player needs to take up all the cards on the deck.

The objective

Whoever empties their hand of all cards first wins.

This is a simple game but very fun; the more players, the merrier. If you can get 6 players, it is really fun. Don't care who you are. I welcome you to try this one out. As a matter of fact I challenge you to play it.