WHERE A DUPPY LIVES 

Even though it is March 12th already, it is very cold and snowy outside. Therefore, I decided to choose some warm and sunny country to make this day less doom and grey. The first name that came to my mind was Jamaica.

Jamaican culture has been influenced by the indigenous peoples of the region, African slaves and the Europeans. Therefore, superstitions of this country are also blended and are the same as the ones in Germany, Spain and England. Here we will take a brief look at some of the most popular in Jamaican culture today.

When a new life is born:

• A baby boy who resembles his mother, as well as a baby girl who resembles her father, will be lucky.
• If a pregnant woman climbs a fence, her child will become a thief.
• A pregnant woman must be given whatever food she is craving or the child will have a birth mark resembling the food.
• When a child is born, his/her umbilical cord must not be allowed to fall on the floor. The mother must guard it and, within three days of the birth, must bury it in the ground. A tree is to be planted on the spot, which will be known as the child's naval string tree.

When a life is taken away:

• If a black moth hovers around a particular person, it means that a family member has died and his/her spirit came in form of moth to tell about it.
• When leaving a wake (a celebration of a person who has recently passed away), simply touch the person who should be leaving with you. If you verbalize your intentions, the ghost of the deceased person will follow you home.
• On your way home from a wake, walk backwards and spin three times. If a ghost is following you, it won’t be able to do it after this ritual. The belief is that ghosts can only walk in a straight line.
• Widows and widowers must wear red underwear to prevent their deceased spouses from coming back and having sexual intercourse with them (I find this one very funny even though the topic is sad).
• When a loved one passes away it is very important for each family member to say goodbye to the corpse. Children are lifted up and passed over the corpse while saying their name. If not to perform this task correctly, the spirit of the deceased person coming will come to haunt the mourner. The same is true for anyone allowing their tears to fall on the body.

It is very interesting to see how important it is for Jamaicans to meet a new life and let it go in correct way. Life is a priceless gift; therefore, it must be honored and respected even after its ending.