Jamaica culture people food and festivals
Jamaican Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette
Welcome to our guide to Jamaica. This is useful for anyone researching Jamaican culture, customs, manners, etiquette, values and wanting to understand the people better. You may be going to Jamaica on business, for a visit or even hosting Jamaican colleagues or clients in your own country. Remember this is only a very basic level introduction and is not meant to stereotype all Jamaicans you may meet!
Facts and Statistics
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
Capital: Kingston
Population: 2,930,050 (2014 est.)
Ethnic Make-up: black 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%, white 0.2%, Chinese 0.2%, mixed 7.3%, other 0.1%
Religions: Protestant 61.3% (Church of God 21.2%, Baptist 8.8%, Anglican 5.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 9%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Methodist 2.7%, United Church 2.7%, Brethren 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.6%, Moravian 1.1%), Roman Catholic 4%, other including some spiritual cults 34.7%
The Language
English (official), Creole. English is the official language of Jamaica. However, Patois (Creole), a combination of English and some African languages, is spoken in rural areas and is used increasingly in urban areas. Most Jamaicans can speak or understand Patois, but it is not a written language. Jamaican speech, even in English, has a distinctive rhythmic and melodic quality.
Religion
- Religion is fundamental to Jamaican life, which can be seen in the references to Biblical events in everyday speech.
- The island has the highest number of churches per capita in the world and more than 100 different Christian denominations. Most Jamaicans are Christians; the largest denominations are the Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Brethren and Roman Catholics.
- Christmas is typically observed by various denominations with Communion services, candlelight ceremonies, concerts, all-night prayer meetings and the singing of Christmas carols
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