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Jamaica
Map of Central America
Flag of Jamaica
Flag
“The sun shineth, the land is green and the people are strong and creative” is the symbolism of the colours of the flag. Black depicts the strength and creativity of the people; Gold, the natural beauty of the sunlight and the wealth of the country; and Green signifies hope and agricultural resources.
Brief History of Jamaica
History
- The Taino people arrived from South America in the seventh century and called the island Xaymaca, "land of wood and water," because of the green dense forest and the hundreds of fast-flowing streams that once covered the landscape.
- Christopher Columbus was the first European to visit Jamaica in 1494 and called it "the fairest island that eyes have beheld."
- The Taino people were enslaved and by 1600 were wiped out by disease or harsh treatment. The Spanish brought in slaves from Africa and ruled the island until 1655 when the British seized it.
- The British controlled Jamaica until 1962.
General Information
General Information
- Jamaica is a mountainous island in the Caribbean Sea about 600 miles (965 kilometers) south of Miami, Florida.
- It is part of the chain of Caribbean islands called the Greater Antilles, along with Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico.
- Jamaica is the tip of a mountain rising from the sea floor. Nearly half of the island is more than 1,000 feet (330 meters) above sea level. There are lush rolling hills that are ideal for agriculture and coastal beach regions that are popular with tourists.
PEOPLE & CULTURE
- Most of the population lives in the city and one third of all Jamaicans live in the capital of Kingston.
- More than 90 percent of the population is of African descent, but many other people have come from China, India, Germany, and Syria to find work on the island. Jamaica's motto is "Out of Many, One People."
- Jamaicans are spiritual people and follow many religions, including Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam. Many are Rastafarians, followers of a Christian-based faith, which grew out of a civil rights movement in the 1930s.
Reggae
When most people think of Jamaica they think of Reggae, or "Ragged Music." The music was born in the 1950s and '60s from the musical styles of mento, ska, and rocksteady. The most famous reggae star was Bob Marley, who was backed by his group the Wailers. Other famous reggae stars include Desmond Dekkar, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, and Burning Spear.
Haile Sellasie
- Rastafarians believe that Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia from 1916 to 1974, was their savior. Rasta men wear their hair in dreadlocks, believing that hair should not be cut, and wear clothing in red, gold, and green—the colors of the Ethiopian flag.
Government in Jamaica
- Jamaica is a Constitutional Monarchy. They have a constitution (the highest law in the land) and a King/Queen.
- Jamaica became independent from the United Kingdom in 1962 but remains a member of the Commonwealth.
- As a result, the Queen of Jamaica is also the Queen of England (Elizabeth II).
- The queen has a representative in Jamaica called the Governor General (Patrick Allen).
NATURE
- The island is home to the endangered Homerus swallowtail, the largest butterfly in the Western Hemisphere. Its wingspan is 6 inches (25 cm), which makes this insect larger than many of the island's birds.
- The vervain, the world's second smallest bird is found here. This tiny hummingbird is only 2.5 inches (8 cm) long. Jamaica's national bird is the streamertail hummingbird, or "doctor bird." It has long tail feathers and a scarlet bill.
Snakes?
- There are very few snakes on the island of Jamaica, despite having a climate that you’d think would be attractive to serpents. In 1872, the mongoose was imported to Jamaica to rid the cane fields of rats.
- As an unintentional side effect, the mongoose also killed off almost the entire snake population.
- Housing expansion and farming have also contributed to their reduction so running into one isn't common in Jamaica. Even if you do, all of the native species are non-venomous, so you have very little to worry about.
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