Today’s Google Doodle honored Jamaica’s 60th anniversary of Independence. Happy Independence Day, Jamaica!
Today’s doodle honors the 60th anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence Day. After more than 300 years under British rule, the people of this mountainous island in the Caribbean Sea fought to win their freedom.
On this day in 1962, the Jamaican Act of Independence passed and gave the country the freedom to govern itself. Emancipation Day is also celebrated during the same week in Jamaica, with many festivities starting on the first day of the month.
As the main event of the week, the Jamaican Independence Festival, held in the capital of Kingston, features many cultural performances. With powerful drums and upbeat reggae music, the grand parade captures the fun-loving spirit of Jamaicans. Performing on one stage, reggae dance groups from around the world gather during the Independence Day celebrations for the World Reggae Dance Final, an event organized by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission.
Men and women move to the beat in traditional clothing such as layered skirts or dresses, and intricate headscarves and turbans bearing the green, yellow and black colors of the Jamaican flag – like the one featured in today’s Doodle photo.
Happy Independence Day, Jamaica!
