Did You Know

Interesting Facts about Jamaica

Trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits about Jamaica.

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Did You Know?

24 curious facts about Jamaica.

When a child loses a tooth, at night the Rolling Calf comes rattleing chains to take the child and their tooth away. They put the tooth in a tin can and shake it hard. The noise keeps the Rolling Calf away.
The colours of Jamaica's flag are symbolic. Black signifies the strength and creativity of the people; gold, the natural wealth and beauty of sunlight; and green, hope and agricultural resources.
The most famous Jamaican bird is the national bird, the indigenous swallow tail hummingbird or “doctor bird.” The male has a distinctive tail that splits into two long sections, which stream behind as he flies.
The British imported the mongoose to help eradicate the cane rat in Jamaica. In the process, the mongoose also fed on snakes.

“Daddy” Sam Sharpe, a Baptist preacher, led Jamaica's last slave rebellion in Montego Bay during the Christmas of 1831. Although the revolt failed, slavery was finally abolished a few years later.
Some Jamaicans hold nine-day wakes for deceased persons. The wake is a time for respecting and honoring the departed soul. For nine nights, relatives and friends share food and sing hymns, thus saying goodbye to the departed one.
After the birth of a child, some rural Jamaicans bury the placenta and umbilical cord in the ground, then plant a sapling over the spot. The tree is known as the baby's tree or “navel-string” tree.
Some women work alone or with children selling fruits, vegetables and snacks. Known as “higglers,” these solo, often middle-aged women are able to provide income for their families when the only alternatives are unemployment or difficult domestic work.
Jamaicans refer to their major crops in terms of gold. Sugar is brown gold, while bananas are green gold and bauxite is red gold. Citrus fruits are sun gold.
Jamaica's bobsled team is the subject of the comic Walt Disney movie Cool Runnings.