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Jamaica Wedding

Jamaica is an island located in the Caribbean archipelago. Arawak Indians the old inhabitants were discovered by Columbus on May 5th 1494. In the XVI century, Spain had started to populate the island bringing black slaves from Africa to work the sugar plantations. It is a tropical paradise  visited very often by British citizens, Americans and Europeans. It is also the homeland of the great Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. And if we are in Jamaica we got to talk about Rastafari, the main religion in this country.

Rastafari movement (also known as Rastafari, or simply Rasta) is a new religious movement monotheistic, Abrahamic, which recognizes the Haile Selassie I, former Emperor of Ethiopia as the incarnation of God, called Jah or Jah Rastafari. Haile Selassie is seen as part of Holy Trinity and the return of the Messiah promised in the Bible. Rastafari movement emerged predominantly in Jamaica in the 20th century  and proclaims Africa (called “Zion”) as the actual place where  was found the body of the first man.

The name Rastafari comes from Ras (free translation of the word “head” Ethiopian title equivalent to Duke) and Tafari Makonnen, his name worn before the coronation of Haile Selassie I. In Jamaica weddings are like anywhere in the world. In the sense that the wedding is considered a very special occasion. An occasion for two lovers to begin a new life together.

Before marrying a woman, a rastaman needs to know her very well, and have a long relationship before getting married, usually a year and a half. The Religious ritual is made in a Rasta church, which is not a temple, but mostly a building where they all gather. Ritual can be done in the forest or on the beach too. Wedding rings are not so important in the cult of  Rasta, but during the ritual, the groom and the bride are crowned as the King Alpha and the Queen Omega.

Priest prays for the new couple blessing them with beautiful children and a long happy life full of love. Ceremony includes singing, rhythm of bongo drums and recitations of Bible psalms. There are not made vows, because if two people marry they really love each other therefore it does not take vows to keep them together. Jamaica has some very beautiful wedding traditions, among the most beautiful and most popular weddings ever, including also an “old time” style Jamaican weddings, which is not a Rasta style.

The cake. As in other traditions wedding cake plays an important role in the Jamaican ceremony of marriage. It is made from rum and exotic fruits, to cheer up the atmosphere. The cake is placed in the center of the table, in front of the bride and the groom, the cake being the most important element of a Jamaican wedding. In the past the tradition of gifts didn’t exist, but people used to cover the cake with money that served as a first help for starting a family. Family plays an importnat role in Jamaican culture, many artists make references about it in their songs (eg Ziggy Marley: ‘Family time’).

In such a major event in the life of every man, as the marriage event is, one can not miss the presence of family and friends. When the couples marry they are not united as families of the two lovers but also they are  added as other two members in the existing family. The “wedden godmaddas and godfaddas” are the spiritual parents of the relationship, these ones being chosen by the bride and the groom. First responsibility that the two new members of the family have to consider is to organize the event.

They need to raise money from parents and relatives of the future husband and wife , to attend to the location, food, music and many other organizational issues that are so vital in a dream wedding for the happy couple. Also they should help the couple to choose their wedding rings. The ‘godmadda’ should help the bride with wedding dress and to ensure the wedding bouquet of flowers. ‘Godmadda’ has to take care of the fact that the table doesn’t miss flowers and fruit decorations as well as the decoration for the cake . The ‘godfadda’ is responsible with the organization of the party, providing music and building the wedding boat. He also helps the groom in choosing the wedding suit. “Show bread” is a traditional bread very nicely decorated , the form of the decoration being a bird, the symbol of peace, or two birds, the symbol of love.The ‘godfadda’ is responsable also for this item.

The Thanks Day is the first Sunday that follows the wedding day, when the new family go to church where the wedding took place and attend the service. This is a way to thank God. When this day takes place the final ritual is displayed, when ‘godmadda’ takes the right hand of the bride and ‘godfadda’ takes the groom’s hand and say together the following words: “We hand you over to one another, go and live like Isaac and Rebecca.”

Jamaica has very beautiful weddings as well as customs and cultural life, everyday is seen as a beautiful reason to feel the joy of living. Many people are attracted to this style approached by Jamaican life. Today you can organize a beach wedding in Jamaica, without being Jamaican citizen. Almost all hotels have this offer, they organize everything, all you you have to do is to be present. Stay at an all-inclusive Jamaica resort for the best deals on your vacation expenses. Many people opt for a wedding in this tropical paradise.

So now you can take your partner and do your wedding of you are dreaming about, on a beach of fine sand and with the sound of the ocean which is like a very romantic song. you and your partner beef You will not be able to watch this ceremony so pure and divine, in a country which stands for freedom and libertinism.

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