jamaican wedding traditions

The fruitcakes were traditionally presented first to the bride under a white lace. Jamaican wedding receptions are usually in the backyard of the bride or grooms family home. 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). And since the celebration usually goes from dusk to dawn and so on, it can be tough to find a venue that will allow a 24-hour party. The shelter was built at the groom's home. Its also customary to have rum cocktails available for guests. Wedding flowers and foliage are typically incorporated to brighten up the procession and invite nature in. The type of cake, is called Jamaican black rum cake, Depending on if the bride and groom are of different cultures or not, the cake could be decorated in several different styles. One of the most interesting Jamaican wedding traditions is called Tun Tanks Sunday. | Privacy Policy. The arrangements for a Jamaican wedding are primarily the responsibility of the bride and the groom itself. ? This second reception was even larger than the first one, with more food and more cakes beings served. The bride and groom of course have to have their one last night of freedom! As with any religion, there are of course different branches of Revivalism, but generally speaking a Revivalist ritual involves lots of singing, drumming, dancing, hand-clapping, and foot-stomping. Deeply . All of these things, will be needed 30-60 days before the event so they better not forget! Obeah men are still very popular in rural areas but are viewed in many urban communities nowadays as immoral. The favors are typically Jamaican treats! As you can see, Jamaican weddings are mostly about having fun and enjoying some incredible food! Traditional Jamaican weddings serve an extravagant black rum cake. Attendees in a procession bring in the cake under a veil to keep it hidden until the time to cut. These cookies do not store any personal information. If youre looking to throw a Jamaican wedding, here are the ultimate wedding traditions you should know about and incorporate. 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. by | Dec 22, 2017 | Jamaica Culture | 0 comments. So hopefully, the bridesmaids have quick hands. As you can see, there are so many unique and interesting traditions associated with a Jamaican wedding. Nevertheless, if you are planning to hold a Jamaican wedding, here are some of the interesting wedding traditions, that you can include in it. Relatives of the couple and members of the community all had roles in preparing for the ceremony. Traditional Jamaican Wedding. Your email address will not be published. Miss Lou also explains the role of the wedden godfadda who, on the other hand took care of the wedding reception. When you think of a wedding, the cake seems like the cherry on top of your dream event. Then it will gradually work its way down to Reggae and Dancehall music for the ultimate post-nuptial party. 1. Everyone in attendance gives the bride and groom their blessing, and then everyone enters the church for the wedding. It is then killed and used to make the curry which will be served at the reception. Our team has scoured the country to get you the details for bridal expos in your area. Although Jamaican culture is always changing, with many of the old ways of life giving way to the unstoppable march of modernisation and urbanisation, the unique Jamaican fabric is still there, and the only way to get a true sense of this is to see the island for yourself. Unfortunately, most people outside of the Caribbean only know the modern commercial side of Jamaican marriages. We support you to make the most of your time on earth. Sometimes guests from around town would even show up uninvited. Its more than just a tasty dessert at your wedding; its a sacred cake meant to be treated with respect and appreciation. It has been over six and a half years since Ive moved to Jamaica. including the Jamaica Gleaner's Hospitality Jamaica, Carlong Publishers, This has always been a Jamaican wedding tradition, but some Western brides have adopted this ritual. Over and above having their own responsibilities, these god parents helped the couple to choose their wedding rings too. On an episode of "Married Away" the other day, a couple was getting married in Jamaica and the WC mentioned a wedding tradition. Dont wear black, red or purple. It is then killed and used to make the curry which will be served at the reception. Finding it difficult to find a reception venue? Its also bad luck to share your wedding cake with a dog or allow any cake to fall onto the floor. Share your passion(about your city, hobby or experience) and make a living from it. Sharing IS Caring! Typically, the wedding couple picks out their own goat to be prepared for the wedding. In the past, the wedding was paid for by the family of the bride (which I think is normal in most cultures), but now the bride and groom stand for the costs of the wedding for the most part, but parents on both sides still chip in sometimes. For instance, these parent figures were responsible for organizing the entire wedding event, starting from collecting funds from parents and relatives from each side, choosing volunteers and more. Rum is a flavorful, traditional Jamaican addition to any wedding cake. While English is the official language of Jamaica, Patois is spoken much more frequently and comfortably, hence the most common Jamaican phrases are almost exclusively in Patois. In traditional Jamaican culture, the wedding reception was held in a shelter constructed out of coconut boughs and decorated with tropical flowers. Sometimes female guests are also encouraged to wear white. "Jamaicans believe that wearing a ring on your wedding finger before you get married, reduces your chances of getting married," says Anderson. August 27, 2022 by Erin Krespan. Did you know duppies cant count past three? A common Jamaican wedding ceremony is held on a local (or can be private) beach, but they may also want to hold it in a church. Not only is Jamaica a beautiful backdrop for the ultimate summer wedding, but its culture is filled with unique wedding traditions. The modern Jamaican weddings have drawn a lot of influence from American and English traditions. The cake is soaked for weeks in rum for moisture and flavor. More Changes: Memoirs Of An Illegal Alien Part 25. Bellamy points out that Jamaica is unique in that it is a cultural mecca. If you've been invited to the Caribbean for a destination wedding in Jamaica or may be looking to pay homage to your Jamaican roots when getting married, there are a couple of traditions that can be incorporated into the wedding that you may want to learn about. Revivalism is based on Christianity, but with an African twist the attitudes towards nature and spirituality are influenced by African religions, as is the style of worship. 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. 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. Here youll find information and useful resources from our small team of wedding experts. For Authentic Jamaican products, from my very own hands, visit my Etsy store here. The women wore white Jamaican clothing and head ties for this procession and did not speak to one another, till they reached the wedding venue. While the rum is in the cake, a goat is usually chosen by the bride and groom prior to the wedding. If you thought the goat was essential, its nothing compared to the cake. Stock Photos from Photos.com, iStockPhotos.com, 123rf. TraditionalJamaican weddingswerent just family affairs. The guests are expected to stay late at the wedding reception. This takes place on the Sunday after wedding ceremony. This is to ensure the bouquet will never touch the ground. Miss Lou describes the dinner which is the next event. While the rum is in the cake, a goat is usually chosen by the bride and groom prior to the wedding. Guests and members of the wedding party will construct a marquee or tent in the grooms backyard for the reception. Its not like your average packet mix cake either it includes aromatic spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg and dried fruit that has been soaking in rum since the engagement. So we have covered the traditions, but what about superstitions? The celebration is somewhat similar to Scottish weddings which also include elaborate parades and processions. The celebrations would end for the evening, with godparents accompanying the wedded couple to their new home. The goat would be cooked by a family member," explains Anderson. Copyright 2023 Apa Digital AG, all rights reserved. OK, enough about desserts; now talk about what actually goes on during the big day. Anyone who comes for the reception, is served food and no one is ever refused hospitality. As soon as the engagement is announced, it is the responsibility of the grandmother of the groom to soak dried fruit in white overproof rum for the duration of the engagement. You can also expect the following staple foods at a Jamaican wedding: The dinner is an integral part of any Jamaican wedding, as its one of the main ways they can incorporate their culture and bring the spirit of the islands to their wedding. Let these examplesfrom funny to romanticinspire you. 12 Traditions & Rituals at Jamaican Weddings. When Sunday mass finishes, wedding guests visit the brides familys house for a second reception. The traditional show bread is a decorated bread with magnificent twists and twirling which showcases a bird on top of it symbolizing peach or two birds which signifies love. ? The cakes were in the sides, were never covered and always hand-carried. While people are dancing the wedden godfadda would cut the show bread. Soon the procession would be joined by several others including people from the village and the invited guests. Unlike European Christianity, Revivalist Christianity in Jamaica doesn't believe in a separation between this world and the next, meaning spirits can affect the material world and, by extension, our lives. 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. questions and answers! While the actual ceremony may be performed in a church or chapel, the festivities are usually taken somewhere more familiar. Just as they love rum, Jamaicans can also not do away with their curried goat and rice. If youre looking for tips, tricks or resources for making your wedding the most memorable for you and your guests, weve got just the place! This fun tradition is when the bride invites all of the wedding guests back to her house for brunch and more festivities. 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. Obeah practitioners (known as obeah men) can be hired to use their spells and rituals to bring good or bad luck. Uber is venturing into more countries and they are slowly expanding their services in Jamaica. A few Jamaican staples youre sure to find at a wedding reception include jerk chicken, fried plantains, and jerk fish. Even if the ceremony is in the morning, guests will party and dance until the sun comes up. Guests get a taste of the islands with traditional tropical dishes featuring pineapples and coconut and customary proteins like jerk chicken. His 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. His role was to help the groom with his suit, organize the right kind of music and drink for the guests. This reception is often open to the community and those loved ones who couldn't make the wedding," says Anderson. As for the beverages, besides rum punch, alcoholic beverages, including wine and champagne are served too. If you found this page useful,please considersubscribing to my weekly newsletter, to get even more. "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. Its hidden under a veil until the moment the couple cuts the cake, and it receives a dramatic procession when brought into the reception. The reception as you probably guessed has an open bar. Here are some of the most fascinating wedding traditions from around the world. Your wedding venue is the background to your special day. Have you been on the lookout for waterfalls in Negril Jamaica? Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Wed Buddy, the internets #1 resource for all things wedding. There will always be reggae playing at a wedding reception. 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. Many Jamaican weddings dont even send out written, personalized invitations. The marriage certificate is signed on the day of the wedding. The marriage certificate is signed on the day of the wedding. In addition to curried goat, jerk chicken is often a staple on a Jamaican wedding menu. 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. Togetherness is the idea here and it creates a strong camaraderie among friends, family, and unfamiliar guests alike. Some bridal parties may have choreographed entrances with popular songs. Table of Contents show. Instead, they choose a person to throw it to. One interesting thing to note is that its not uncommon for both the father and mother to walk the bride down the aisle. Did you know that in a Jamaican wedding, the cake is not white, but dark in color? A few very common, The bride wants her special day to go on without a hitch, so just like every wedding, all attire, photography, entertainment, food plannings, etc. Right after the wedding, everyone heads over to the grooms house for a reception. Traditionally, the backyard reception (in the grooms backyard) is held in a marquee built by members of the reception. While marriage is about you and your soon-to-be spouse, it's also a time to honor the family that raised you. Jamaican Wedding Traditions . While some wedding receptions can run very late when everyone is having fun, Jamaican weddings take the cake on late-night parties. Some modern Jamaican couples opt to have smaller weddings, but this is rarer, as the Jamaican culture is very inviting and focused on community. . The Preparation for the Old Time Jamaican Wedding. Every culture has its own traditions when it comes to weddings and Jamaica, being as colourful as it is, is no different. But, Jamaica being mainly a Christian country, the wedding is still done in a Christian format. efforts have earned this site featured positions in local publications, This second reception is often bolder than the original reception, which is almost unimaginable. Foodis so central to Jamaican culture. Almost every Jamaican wedding serves goat for dinner, the traditional meal reserved for special occasions. 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. Is Pan Chicken Different from Jerk Chicken? In Caribbean countries, the various ingredients of the cake, such as rum, dry fruits, eggs, etc. 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).". 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. site may be reprodiced without our written permission. Copyright Wedessence & Buzzle.com, Inc. Click Here to see how. The top of the cake at this event is given to the priest who performed the wedding, and the next two slices are given to the bride and groom. Most of the time grooms have a special platform built on their property just for the occasion. | Link To Us. Curried goat or chicken is also very popular at wedding receptions. 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. Nowadays anyone can try a Jamaican wedding cake for themselves using arecipeon the Internet. In addition to The Knot Worldwide, Jenna contributes to other online publications including Insider, People, BuzzFeed and The Daily Beast. Food: The cuisine of Jamaica is now well known throughout the world, and there's a good reason why. While some cultures focus on avoiding terrible luck and upholding superstitions, Jamaican weddings are all about the party! This was a solemn and silent procession during which no one spoke. If dogs eat a slice of your cake, you will have a miserable marriage. Posted in Africa, Culture, Planning, Wedding Traditions, Weddings by wedded wonderland, Africa, Culture, Planning, Wedding Traditions, Weddings. With the dominant religionof Jamaica being Christianity, theceremonydoesnt differ much from many western weddings. Many are the ghosts of real people who have died, but there are also specific ghosts that are a traditional staple of childrens bedtime stories. You might be thinking of all the "wedding" flavours there are but I promise you won't guess this one. Tun T'anks Sunday. 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. This is very similar to African traditions. 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 Culture And Traditions Of Jamaica. 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. Wedding speeches began soon after the first piece of the rum/fruit cake was given to the newly-wed couple for sharing. Wearinng a ring on your "wedding finger" before you get married will reduce your chances of ever getting married to zero. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Guests often send their gifts in advance and a common one is eggs - a basic ingredient for the wedding cake. During that time I have attended more funerals than I care to think about, but not one wedding. A traditional wedding in Jamaica typically involved the whole village or community where the couple lived. will be served along with the special Jamaican punch for non-alcoholic drinkers, and wine or champagne for the adults. The Nine Nights ritual was traditionally practised to ensure the dead persons duppy did not come back to haunt the living. The most common gift is that of eggs, to be used for making the wedding cake. Don't expect to see Jamaican to-be-weds wearing an engagement ring on their wedding finger ahead of the big day. If it rains, you will have a problematic marriage. Jamaican brides tend to wear white dresses and men wear formal suits. Following the last reception, the newly wedded couple went to their new home and usually remained there for a week. The mother and father of the bride walk their daughter down the aisle to give her away to her new husband. When you think of a wedding, the cake seems like the cherry on top of your dream event. It is also decorated with different types of tropical flowers to resemble the beaches, and the beauties of the country itself. It shouldnt be a surprise that one of the greatest Jamaican wedding traditions have to do with food. Not to mention, its ideal that you burn the sugar in order to give the cake its dark colour. How many of these did you already know? 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. But she can be warded off if a crossed knife and fork and Bible are kept next to the babys crib. I recommend you START HERE to enjoy the best of this website! Your email address will not be published. Probably the best part of a Jamaican wedding is, of course, that you dont have to travel at all to experience one of the worlds finest honeymoon destinations. Most Jamaican weddings adopt western wedding ceremony traditions, borrowing from the Uk and American styles. Not only is this pastry delicious, its actually quite simple to make.

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