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J is for Jamaica

April 12, 2016 Claire Annette Noland 5 Comments

J

Welcome to another edition  of the a to z blog challenge. My theme this year is “Living in a Mermaid World.” Today is sponsored by the letter J so I am exploring mermaid legends from Jamaica.

The River Mumma of Jamaica is a mermaid who acts as the guardian the of fresh water rivers in Jamaica. She sometimes can be seen sitting on a rock in the river combing her long black hair with a golden comb. Legends say that all the fish in the rivers are her children and should not be caught or else she will cause the river to dry up.

J mermaid

It is believed that stories about River Mumma are closely related to the West African oral mermaid tales that were brought by slaves to Jamaica.

One of the most interesting legends is River Mumma and the Golden Table. This legend tells of a golden table that the Spaniards left  hidden at the bottom of the river. The River Mumma guards the table. Occasionally the table rises slowly to the surface of the river and greedy people try to steal. You can read a version of this Jamaican folktale here.

J golden table

 

You might enjoy reading The Mystery of the Golden Table by Suzanne Francis Brown. It was published in Jamaica in by Arawak publications

J The_Mystery_of_t_4a7f2a76d056e

 

Don’t you think it is interesting how many mermaid tales have their roots in other places?

Filed Under: Blogging A to Z, Mermaids, Places Tagged With: a to z blog challenge 2016, Jamaican mermaids, River Mumma, River Mumma and the Golden Table

Previous Post: « I is for Irish Merrows
Next Post: K is for Korean Mermaids »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. JazzFeathers says

    April 12, 2016 at 6:22 am

    That’s quite an odd legend. It’s be intersting to know how it was born.

    @JazzFeathers
    The Old Shelter – Jazz Age Jazz

    Reply
  2. Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor says

    April 12, 2016 at 10:46 am

    I’m amazed at how many mermaid tales there are worldwide. i love this version from Jamaica!

    Cheers – Ellen | http://thecynicalsailor.blogspot.com/2016/04/j-is-for-jetty-nancy-drew-investigates.html

    Reply
  3. Pat Garcia says

    April 12, 2016 at 6:18 pm

    Very interesting. I have put the book on my TBR list which is growing bigger every day.

    Shalom,
    Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

    Reply
  4. evelyne holingue says

    April 12, 2016 at 6:48 pm

    This is one is cool, too. I imagine the golden comb. I like the rising table too! You rock with this challenge, Claire.

    Reply
  5. Pam says

    April 13, 2016 at 2:03 am

    that is SOOOOOO interesting! i had a first grader once who was learning to spell. her family went on vacation and in her journal entry she wrote that they went to Ja make a. it took me a long while to figure out what she was spelling. It still makes me chuckle to this day. She spelled it how it sounded: Ja make (silent e) ah and all the while i was like, Ja ma ke ah?

    grat theme Claire!

    Reply

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Hello. I’m Claire Annette - reader, writer, teacher, and field trip planner extraordinaire. Here at A Field Trip Life you will find ideas for adventures large and small and the kids’ books that inspire them. Sign your permission slip. Let's go!

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