Sometime in September, a friend and I entered a business establishment in Warrens to purchase a few items. As we entered the business, to our surprise, we were greeted with Christmas products and a team of two doing Christmas promotions. Did I mention this was in September?
As I visited more businesses across the island I recognised they too had started their Christmas promotions very early. As I skipped through radio stations, to my disappointment, I could hear Christmas music playing as well as advertisements related to the Christmas season being broadcast.
Honestly speaking, I am a great lover of Christmas music and the Christmas season; however, I do not believe it should take precedence over our national celebration of Independence.
This year it seems as if the spirit of Independence and national celebration is somewhat low-key, ignored or forgotten. I would even go as far as to say that I believe the average child/youth knows little about our nation’s history and development and is somewhat not interested in it. If it is true that our youth have little interest in our nation’s history, then it would be fair to say that they too will have very little interest in our region’s history.
Some day last week I stumbled onto a friend’s Facebook page (Rommel Hall). He was making his contribution to the national celebration of Independence sharing with the world, Bajanisms – the 2010 Edition. I would like to share some of these with you plus two others I obtained from a friend at work (numbers 14 and 15).
1 – Yuh know yuh is a Bajan when yuh know who Joe Monkey is . . . and when to look fuh he.
2 – Yuh know yuh is a Bajan when yuh know that the “Days” does start at 6 p.m.
3 – Yuh know yuh is a Bajan when yuh does lower up de T.V.
4 – Yuh know yuh is a Bajan when yuh know de word “quiet” has one syllable and “worm” has two.
eg 1 “Boy try and keep quet!!”
eg 2 “Looka da Christmas wur-urm.”
5 – Yuh know yuh is a Bajan when every thing from yuh hip down to yuh toes is your “foot”.
6 – Yuh know yuh is a Bajan when yuh know ’bout Tam’brin balls and Sucka-bubbies
7 – Yuh know yuh is a Bajan when bakes get fried
8 – Yuh know yuh is a Bajan when yuh know de word “France” can be used as an expletive.
9 – Yuh know yuh is a Bajan when yuh know dat “Cheese on bread” could be a meal, or an expression of frustration.
10 – Yuh know yuh is a Bajan when yuh know dat yuh does “keep” noise as opposed to “make” noise.
11 – Yuh know yuh is a Bajan when yuh know how to stupse.
12 – Yuh know yuh is a Bajan when yuh know dat “cuttin’ yuh eyes”, “cuttin’ yuh tail” and “Yuh belly cuttin” aint got nutten to do with scissors, knives or any sharp objects.
13 – Yuh know yuh is a Bajan when locations in your house include de veranda, de gallery and de front house.
Additional 2
14 – Yuh know yuh is a Bajan when somebody stupid is called a poppit.
15 – Yuh know yuh is a Bajan when you call strangers boss man, partner or skipper
Have a happy Independence Day.
Corey Worrell is a former Commonwealth Youth Ambassador.
