List of Jamaica’s Most Celebrated Days Each Year
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From internationally recognised religious holidays to days of remembrance specifically for Jamaicans, a number of days hold significance in the country and are celebrated every year.
This list highlights the most celebrated and beloved days in Jamaica.
- Bob Marley Day/Birthday
Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945, in Nine Miles, St. Ann, Jamaica. The singer later became one of the founding members of the iconic band Bob Marley and the Wailers and cemented himself in history before passing away in 1981.
Marley is celebrated every February in Jamaica, with the days between the fifth and twelfth of February serving as Bob Marley Week.
- Black History Month
Black History Month is a time of remembrance, which also serves to highlight both the many triumphs and struggles of black people throughout history. While not a single day of celebration, Black History Month, which originates in America, holds specific significance in Jamaica as it is celebrated in February, which also serves as Reggae Month.
Jamaica’s contribution to black history, culture, and music is celebrated and highlighted during this special commemorative month.
- Marcus Garvey Day/Birthday
Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr. was born on August 17, 1887, in St Ann’s Bay, Jamaica, and died on June 10, 1940. Garvey became Jamaica’s first national hero in 1969, with his birthday later declared Marcus Garvey Day on August 17, 2012.
- Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is recognised as a religious holiday of prayer and fasting and marks the first day of Lent. The season often sees many Jamaicans adjusting their diets for the Easter, such as the replacement of red meat with fish and the high consumption of Easter buns and cheese.
The day Ash Wednesday is celebrated on is dependent on Easter Sunday.
- Good Friday
Good Friday is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday and is a solemn reminder of the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. Traditionally, Jamaicans would set egg whites in a container the evening before the holiday with the pattern or shape used to predict their future.
- Easter Monday
Easter Monday serves as a day of remembrance for Christ’s death and resurrection and is the Monday immediately after Easter Sunday.
- Labour Day
Labour Day can be traced back to the celebration of the achievements of workers in many parts of the world. Celebrated on May 23, Jamaicans can often be seen participating in multiple community clean-up and enhancement projects.
- Emancipation Day
After decades of the slave trade, Africans in British colonies were declared emancipated on August 1, 1834. The celebration of the unofficial holiday was discontinued in 1962 when Jamaica gained independence from Britain but was later reinstated as an official public holiday by Prime Minister PJ Patterson in 1998.
- Independence Day
Once a colony of Britain, Jamaica became an independent nation and a member of the British Commonwealth on August 6, 1962. The island now celebrates the massive milestone yearly with a host of different cultural events, such as the annual Grand Gala.
- Heroes Day
Jamaica first celebrated National Heroes Day on October 20, 1969. The day honours the heroism and achievements of Jamaican heroes Nanny of the Maroons, Samuel Sharpe, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, George William Gordon, Paul Bogle, Norman Washington Manley, and Sir Alexander Bustamante.
- Christmas
Commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas Day is observed on December 25, with Jamaicans adding their own twist to the holiday festivities. Among the traditional Jamaican Christmas customs are Christmas Eve Grand Market celebrations, Jonkonnu (or Junkanoo) Street Parade, traditional Christmas dinner, drinks and desserts.
- Boxing Day
Boxing Day’s origins can be traced back to medieval Britain and is celebrated on December 26. Traditionally, servants received gift boxes of food or money from their masters the day after Christmas.
- New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day is widely observed on January 1 around the world as the first day of the new calendar year. However, some cultures and countries, like China, recognise the holiday on other dates.
Jamaicans celebrate the occasion with a midnight mass and like many across the world set New Year’s resolutions.
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