Celebrate Independence: 10 Interesting Facts About Jamaica

Jamaica: 'Out of Many, One People' Independence and Geography Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom on Aug. 6, 1962. The island nation is the third-largest Caribbean island and the largest English-speaking island in the Caribbean Sea. Symbolism of Flag On the Jamaican flag, green is the symbol of hope and agriculture, the yellow represents natural resources and sunshine, and the black stands for creativity and courage. The Meaning of Jamaica Jamaica comes from an original Taino and Arawak word Xaymaca, meaning "land of wood and water." The Tainos were the indigenous people in Jamaica. It is believed that the Taino and Arawak population was wiped out in Jamaica during Spanish colonialism in South and Central America. Freedom and Independence On Aug. 1, 1834, all enslaved people in British colonies, including Jamaica, were freed. On that day each year, Emancipation Day is celebrated in Jamaica. Focus on Films During the 1980s, there was an increase in the number of films shot in Jamaica. Most notably the James Bond films were shot in various Jamaican locales. There has also been a host of Jamaican-inspired films such as Cool Runnings, The Mighty Quinn and One Love, starring Ky-mani Marley. A First in Sports In 1997, Jamaica became the first English-speaking Caribbean country to qualify for a World Cup. The country participated in the World Cup the following year. Native Creatures The Doctor Bird (Trochilus polytmus) is a national symbol of the country and lives only in Jamaica. The Winter Olympics In 1988, Jamaica took part in the Winter Olympics for the first time. The bobsled team's efforts inspired the 1993 film Cool Runnings. Marcus Garvey, a Legend Jamaica is the birthplace of Marcus Garvey. He was born Aug. 17, 1887. During his life, Garvey was a major figure in both the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements. His lasting legacy may be being the inspiration for the Nation of Islam and the Rastafarian movement. Freedom Fighters During the 18th century, a group of freed slaves called The Maroons warded off the English who wanted to re-enslave them. The Maroons used guerilla tactics to fight against the incoming English. The Maroons defeated the English and managed to strike a peace treaty with them. Today, descendants of the Maroons live in Accompong in western Jamaica and Moore Town in the hills of Portland in eastern Jamaica.

Jamaica: ‘Out of Many, One People’

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