August 17, 2010
In polite society we often brush aside the primitive beliefs of our many cultured pasts, citing science and logic instead. But it seems that superstition is so ingrained in our culture that many of us exercise it daily. Need proof? In the cleanest and most secure of settings, watch and see if a Jamaican woman will rest her purse on the floor. Indeed she will not!! Money runs you know! While the rest of the world heads to the pharmacy for creams and lotions, even the most conservative Jamaica will rejoice at an itchy palm, as the anticipation of money becomes a virtual certainty. Moreover, just about any coincidental or uncommon sighting will send the masses running toward the nearest Cash Pot vendor. I recently decided to try my luck in buying a lotto ticket, figuring that my automated quick pick had a good a shot as any on the 75 million dollar jackpot. Apparently I was ill-prepared. The gambling regulars had come to ticket the window with not only their numbers but supporting documents! Many had log books with formulas for everyday occurrences which they were sure was a ‘rake.’ "Well a taxi bad drive me today, so 15 for taxi cab plus 3 for accident, so the first number is 18..." Not to mention that there were more extensive calculations if you considered the colour of the car or whether a Chinese man was driving. Only in Jamaica do such statements seem normal. Given the nature of the Cash Pot demographic one might be tempted to think that superstition in Jamaica might be class and/or race specific. Not so! In fact, it has come to my attention that many learned academics hide their superstitious under the guise of ‘tradition.’ I have heard a university lecturer with a Phd. attempt to ward off a bee attack by saying the words ‘green bush.’ Despite having taken every medical precaution, one highly educated uptown ‘browning’ decided to buy a pregnancy test because ‘a croaking lizard jumped on me this morning.’ Don’t even bother to walk into a Chinese household with your shoes on, aside from keeping the place cleaner, you must avoid tracking spirits all through the house! One reason many of us fear being labelled superstitious is that many of our African-based superstitions often blur the lines of the occult. People in bad circumstances are often told (in jest) that they need ‘a bush bath.’ But to ever take one, you would be looked down upon; and while logic and intellect are held sacred, a Jamaican mother will often advise her growing son to avoid eating any stewed peas outside of his home, lest he become ‘tied.’ While it is true that superstitions are more rampant in rural areas, here in Kingston we are certainly not immune. Just check out Fort Clarence beach on Ash Wednesday. A Jamaican will swear that Michael Phelps himself would drown if he swam on that particular feast day. An Ash Wednesday spent at the shore is strictly reserved for fish eating and sunbathing. It would be interesting to know exactly where these traditions come from. I have discovered that the idea that ‘duppies’ live under cotton and calabash trees, stems from the fact that these trees were often used as the markers for the graves of slaves. So if you are out in the country side in a small patch of Calabash trees, chances are you are wandering through a family grave plot. The connection to death is clear, but the rest depends on whether you believe in spirits. Who knows why we stick to superstitions, perhaps we are inextricably connected to our various ancestries, or maybe it’s a type of faith, a hope that life will give us signs to guide us in the right direction. All I know is you won’t catch me picking calabash at night!