Jamaica and The Business of Halloween
BLOG SUBMITTED BY: Sherika Harris
It is fair to say that there are some things that Jamaicans are quite hesitant to sign up for in any large number, Halloween is one of them, and here’s why. The now traditional American holiday can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain where it was believed that on that day, the souls of the dead returned to their homes, so people dressed in costumes and lit bonfires to ward off spirits.
Jamaica identifies as a Christian country with values, norms, and traditions closely tied to the Christian church so culturally Jamaicans avoid anything vaguely engaging with the dead, ghosts, or even the devil; in other words Jamaicans “nuh play wid duppy”.
The celebration of Halloween in the Caribbean has been taboo for quite some time because it has been sold as dark and deadly with the spooky holiday decor of brightly orange colored jack-o-lanterns made from pumpkin, spiders and their webs, witches and cauldrons, ghouls, ghosts, goblins, the dead, graveyard, bats, owls, skulls and bones, darkness, bonfires, black magic, sorcery, witchcraft, spells, smoke, mirrors and other elements of mystique.
Over time other countries across the world have jumped on the bandwagon to celebrate the holiday in a similar fashion to the Americans putting their own spin on the festivities surrounding costuming, haunted houses, and trick-or-treat activities. The Caribbean has slowly adopted some aspects of Halloween making it more about catching a party vibe. In Jamaica, some tourist resorts have taken it a step further to create the atmosphere for guests who visit from the US, Canada, and the UK with Halloween decor and activities that require costuming and a bit of a spooky atmosphere.
In recent times, the elites and the wealthier group in the society have adopted the holiday, attaching it to various costumed-themed parties and events which is more about a commercial or economic take rather than tradition. While there is limited to no trick or treating, there may be costume dress codes, spooky decor, games, contests, and a high-energy dancing fete to dancehall and soca music creating more of a carnival atmosphere.
If you want to be a part of these festivities you can pay attention to ads on traditional media and social media for sponsored Halloween-themed parties and fete, the annual Halloween family event at Hope Gardens Zoo in Kingston or take a tour of one of the scariest places in the world the Rose Hall Great House in St. James, which is said to be haunted by the ghost of Annie Palmer. Here visitors have claimed to witness and experience paranormal activities.
For more spooky vibes just take a tour of the island to Maroon villages in Portland and St. Thomas and enjoy the historical stories of ghostly feats or drive across the Flat Bridge in St. Catherine and have a talk with the locals who will tell tales of the river and its mermaid inhabitants or even rolling calves (spirit of the dead in animal form that terrorize the living whom it was sent for).
For the general population, around the time of Halloween, we are making solid preparations for Christmas which is all about the food and entertainment atmosphere which rocks us into a brand new year.