This past Monday, August 6th, Jamaica celebrated 50 years of independence from Britain. The festivities here got off to a slow start primarily because we had a change of government in December and the word on the street is that the previous plans were scrapped. There was also a lot of talk that the government didn’t have the funds — at this moment, I have no idea where we stand in our talks with the IMF — so for a while, I wondered if we’d even have anything.
Meanwhile, Jamaicans in Canada, the US and the UK have been celebrating since last year. Whenever friends there would say they wished they could be here, I’d tell them they’d probably better off staying where they were as not too much was happening here.
Things changed though near the end of July when the Jamaica50 Golden Jubilee Village opened at the National Stadium in Kingston. It did what no other thing had done: it transformed what had been an abstract concept into something real and tangible and caused almost everyone to focus on the anniversary.
Last Friday, I decided to visit the Jubilee Village. It really made my hear swell with pride to see people – women mostly — dressed head to toe in their ‘colors.’ I’m usually hesitant to take photos of people but I couldn’t resist and when I asked they gladly agreed to pose for the camera.
So you might be thinking the colors of the Jamaican flag are black, green, and yellow. You’d be wrong! They’re actually black, green and gold. Maybe yellow’s more easily available or people are just color blind. Whatever. Gold looks so rich!
The colors of Independence are also red, blue, white, black as displayed in the uniforms of our police officers.
And for Jamaica50, even our money got a facelift!
This is my submission to this week’s Budget Travelers Sandbox Travel Photo Thursday series. Be sure to check out other photo and story entries on their website.
oh wow…ahahha I love to ck out your site now!!! cus I love to see photos from different places!!! I miss jamaica…really!!! look at those people’s wearing!!!! ahaha. Great post:)
How fun! It’s so cool how everybody dresses in these colors for the celebration. On a side note… I might have a bunch of questions for you soon since we’re thinking about a trip to JAMAICA in September 🙂
Well Happy 50 and many more to everyone. I love the photos and the different outfits – people do give life to a photo, don’t they? I expected you to say the festivities got off to a slow start because of watching for hurricanes. . .glad that wasn’t it!
Whenever I see the Jamaican flag, or read about it, I immediately think of Usain Bolt. As a runner myself, he’s one of my fave athletes. Happy birthday Jamaica!
I’ve been enjoying these colors while watching the track and field events of the Olympics too!
And anybody watching the men’s track in the Olympics saw plenty of Jamaica’s green and gold. Congratulations on some stunning performances. And happy 50th!
Happy Independence! I’m glad you finally got a chance to celebrate. And your fellow country women are so beautiful all done up in their colors!
I love this display of colors for independence! I just ran into an independence celebration for Bolivia and there were lots of colors there, too.
It looks like a wonderful celebration. I love how everyone is into the spirit of celebration and proudly wearing the colors. Thanks for the information about the colors – totally thought it was yellow too 🙂 Happy 50th Birthday to your country!
Lovely photos! Seems appropriate, too after watching the Olympic coverage tonight.
Congratulations to Jamaica! Enjoy the festivities.
Cheers 🙂
What a wonderful sight and I can see why you would be so happy. What wonderful smiling faces in your photos.
It was, Leigh, people really got into the spirit of things. It was nice to see.
Thanks, Doc!
Hahaha, you’re right, Jessica, quite appropriate.
Thanks, Mary!
It was quite a celebration on Monday. You’re welcome, it’s actually gold. Not sure why the yellow is being used or why the government hasn’t done something about it.
It’s a wonderful display of colors, for sure. I bet Bolivia had a great celebration as well.
Yes, me too! It was absolutely lovely to see how everyone got into the spirit of the celebration.
Thanks, Vera, Lots to celebrate and to be thankful for.
Glad to hear, Debbie. I’ve been enjoying it here as well. Pleased as punch about the performances of the team!
Thanks, Aleah! Wonderful to hear. He’s one of mine too.
Hahaha, there was talk that the gala on Monday would have been postponed. But I think they decided to go ahead because Ernesto had lost some stem. No rain in Kingston on Monday but there was rain elsewhere on the island. I think we were all relieved.
It was fun, Sabrina. I haven’t been here for a while during Independence so it was interesting to see.
Thanks! Well, you’re just going to have to plan another trip!!!
Do each of the colours represent something?
They went all out with the colors. I’m impressed. 😉
I imagine any celebration would be lively and colourful in Jamaica. Happy 50! Coinciding with great Olympic feats, too. 🙂
And I love thieir colors; so happy and bright, much like the people in your photos. I’m a big fan of any celebration from Britain 🙂 Perhaps I’ll visit Jamaica some day, if nothing else, just to taste their food.
Yes, everyone was in a festive mood. It was great to see.
I hope you make it here one of these days Sherry. I’m sure we might have some similar dishes.
It was, Sophie. And the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
We surely did! Hahaha!!!
Yes. Green signifies the lushness of the land, gold for the sunshine and black for the hardships we’ve faced.
Wow! That sums things up nicely.
Hahaha! Doesn’t it?
Love the color coded outfits. 🙂 Happy Belated Birthday Jamaica! 😉
Thanks for the wishes, Elizabeth.
Some people really got into the spirit of things. It was so beautiful to see.