Jamaican Jerk Day
National Jamaican Jerk Day is a vibrant celebration of Jamaica’s culinary heritage, observed every year on the fourth Sunday of October. The day celebrates jerk cooking, a unique Jamaican method of seasoning and grilling meat, fish, or vegetables. Jerk seasoning typically includes Scotch bonnet peppers, allspice, thyme, garlic, and other spices, often cooked over pimento wood for its signature smoky flavor. It’s more than food—it’s about Jamaican culture, music, dance, and community spirit, reflecting the fusion of Taino and African traditions that gave birth to jerk cuisine. Jerk cooking originated with the Maroons, descendants of enslaved Africans who escaped into Jamaica’s mountains and adopted techniques from the indigenous Taino people. The term “jerk” comes from the Spanish word charqui, meaning dried or jerked meat. National Jamaican Jerk Day was officially established in 2020 by Jamaican Jerk Festival USA, Inc., to spotlight this culinary tradition globally.
