Jamaica Local Customs

  Hansi & His Pina Coladas
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  • Hansi & His Pina Coladas
      Hansi & His Pina Coladas
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  • Lobby Bar
      Lobby Bar
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  • Barefoot Bar & Grill
      Barefoot Bar & Grill
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  • Barefoot Bar & Grill
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  • Jerk Hut & Bar
      Jerk Hut & Bar
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Ganja Plantation

by malianrob

Well I wasnt sure where to put this tip under: things to do, local custom, general info???? We went to check out a Ganja plantation. Its no secret that lots of weed is grown here but it is in fact illegal.Now having said that: I was told that as long as you dont have a major huge crop you would be alright. Sometimes cops are paid off to leave the planters alone and other times they just never find out about them. This particular plantation was behind a family's home. Then we walked into the hills for about 5 minutes. He calls himself the Ganja mechanic and he was a nice guy. I asked him if I can take pictures and he said "Yes, No problem, Mon." He also said that no one messes with someone else crop. Respect. Interesting.His crops were pretty spread out and it was out ion the open. If you were interested in this sort of thing you would be pretty excited to check this out. My husband was...

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Jerk chicken

by chess_machine

It is THE country national meal. Personnaly, I dont think it is an amazing meal, but as I like to taste all local food, I tried. The taste is of spicy barbecued chicken, which is pretty good.Of course, have a Red Stripe with it (the national beer) and you will already be half Jamaican ;)

Patois

by toonsarah

One of the fascinating aspects to Jamaica for any English speaker is the way most locals have two languages, both of them ostensibly English. But while the language they will use when talking to you is not so different from their own, when they talk to each other they become instantly incomprehensible. That is because they are in fact talking patois, which is widely regarded as a language in its own right. It has its roots in English, and gets much of its vocabulary from there and from other European languages, but it has a rhythm and structure that owes more to the African roots of most Jamaicans. Here are some examples: Patois: Mi belly ah gripe mi English translation: I have a stomach achePatois: Mi bak ah hat miEnglish translation: My back is hurting mePatois: Gal yuh noh dead yet?English translation: It's been a long time since I have seen you, girlPatois: Lissen mi nuh, mi a beg...

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“No problem, mon”

by toonsarah

After just a few days in Jamaica I already knew that these three little words would sum up my experience of the island and capture the spirit of its people. This phrase is the standard reaction to a request for help or for a service; it is said tongue in cheek when you decline an invitation to browse a crafts stall or take a taxi; it epitomises their attitude to stress management – why worry about things you can’t change when the sun is shining and there’s a chilled Red Stripe waiting to be drunk?If you’re used to a faster pace of life it can take a while to adjust to this “so laid back it’s horizontal” outlook. But if you relax and start to go with the flow, you’ll come to appreciate it and realise that maybe, for the duration of your holiday at least, there really is “No problem, mon”.

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Bob Marley

by toonsarah

Few would argue with the idea that the main contribution that Jamaica has made to international culture is its reggae music, and the man who did most to bring that to the world’s attention was Bob Marley. So perhaps it’s not surprising that he has achieved almost cult status on the island, or so it seemed to me. I don’t think a day of our stay passed without hearing the strains of “One Love”, “Stir it up” or another of his hits.There are two must-see sights for Bob Marley fans, which I cover in more detail on other pages. These are the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, and his birthplace, and now also his burial place, in Nine Mile. Even if you’re not a big fan, the latter in particular is worth a visit as it gives you a sense of where he came from and also more generally of rural life in Jamaica. Apparently if his mother is at home you may get a chance to meet her – the best we managed was...

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Traditional foods

by toonsarah

From the first evening we arrived at the Blue House and were offered curried goat for dinner (excellently cooked by Darryl!) we realised that we were going to have plenty of opportunity to sample the local dishes. Most were really delicious, including that first evening’s curry, with only a few appealing rather less to our taste-buds. In all during our stay we sampled:Curried goat: Darryl’s version was delicious and very welcome after a long journey, washed down with some fruit punch. Rice and peas: one of my favourite Jamaican dishes, which we had on a number of occasions and in different places. The “peas” are in fact what we would call red beans, and they give the rice a really nice flavour.Jerk pork and chicken: best enjoyed at one of the roadside jerk centres. Although I normally prefer chicken to pork, I found the latter tastier and better at absorbing all those wonderful jerk...

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Don't be afraid of "locals"

by VictoriaCampbell

I often heard before travelling to Jamaica that I should stay on my resort and not venture out into the towns for fear of the locals. While I heeded the warning during the evening hours (just as much as I do at home) , I never hesitated to visit the town outside of our resort, walk the beach, shop in the market or go horseback riding on the beach. I found the Jamaican people to be wonderfully respectful and kind during our visit. We had several people approach us to buy illegal drugs but all we had to say was "no thank you" and they would turn away from us. We never felt threatened or intimated by anyone.

In memory of Rev. Spratt

by Dabs

As we were driving along, exactly where I can't tell you, our guide pointed out this rather odd tombstone placed where Rev. Spratt fell from his horse and died. Do you think he might have been related to Jack Spratt who could eat no fat and his wife could eat no lean? ;-)

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African Heritage

by american_tourister

Almost all Jamaicans are of African heritage. The native populations were wiped out some centuries ago and the different countries that ruled Jamaica brought thousands of slaves from Africa to perform the plantation work. As a result Jamaica has an alnost totally black population.

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Language

by noaharc

The official language of Jamaica is English, although most Jamaicans speak a local patois influenced by a combination of several different languages. It may take some time for you to become accustomed to it. When that happens, though, you’ll have fun trying the local expressions.

Local traditions and culture in Jamaica

Top 3 Hotels in Jamaica

Blue Cave Castle  Negril

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Couples Tower Isle Ocho Rios  Ocho Rios

 7 Reviews and 1155 Opinions  We got married on the beach at the all inclusive Couples Tower Island on 10/2/10. I cannot say... 

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Round Hill Hotel & Villas  Montego Bay

 9 Reviews and 342 Opinions  I got to stay one night (only one night boo!). We arrived at night and left after breakfast. I did... 

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357 Hotels in Jamaica
 
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Reviews and photos of Jamaica attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Jamaica sightseeing.

Experience Jamaica
Local Customs: Cities in Jamaica
  1. Negril Local Customs
  2. Montego Bay Local Customs
  3. Ocho Rios Local Customs
  4. Runaway Bay Local Customs
  5. Kingston Local Customs
  6. Port Antonio Local Customs
  7. Whitehouse Local Customs
  8. Treasure Beach Local Customs
  9. Portmore Local Customs

More Cities in Jamaica

 

Popular Regions in Jamaica

Parish of Westmoreland Local Customs  Parish of Saint Ann Local Customs  Parish of Saint James Local Customs  Parish of Portland Local Customs  Parish of Hanover Local Customs  Parish of Saint Elizabeth Local Customs  Parish of Trelawny Local Customs 

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  We will be stopping at Ocho Rios for one day this January on a Carnival cruise. Do you guys have any ideas for using this short... 

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A: Well, you can do the touristy things like Duns Falls http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/3e837/19dc08/ and swim with dolphins in pools or sit on the beach and if you can... 

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