Jumbie Table

Every Christmas Eve it is part of our culture in Montserrat to set the jumbie table (jumbie are ghosts). The jumbie table reveals a tradition held by my ancestors many years ago. When Montserratians (people from Montserrat) say jumbie table we are referring to the table set at Christmas Eve with all the food (roast pig, bread, blood pudding, duckna , black cake [fruit cake], pork, chicken, turkey, potato pudding, dasheen, yam, bananas, macaroni cheese, rice and peas, goat water, tart) and drinks; wine and spirits (water, sweet drink[ soda], lemonade, Guinness, Vita malt, brandy, beer, ginger bear, ginger wine, Manischewitz wine and sorrel drink) that we would consume on Christmas Day. Just before the meal on Christmas day the spirits (liquor) is poured into the corner of house around the table for the ancestors.

As I explain the jumbie table I sit here compelled to note this.  I am in a state of disbelief that my mother and my cousins both sixty plus stated they have never seen a jumbie table set by their parents. My cousin, who is my age, exclaimed “how old are you Brenda?” It seems as if anyone younger than my grandparent’s age (eighty plus years) have not shared this experience. Fortunately for me my cousins Grand Aunt is still alive, so she called her right after I spoke to her. She confirmed that I am not hallucinating or having an out of body experience by remembering the details of the jumbie table. I quickly learned that the term jumbie table is an endearing and commonly used expression but many of my generation and my mother’s generation have never seen a jumbie table set.

It is believed when the tradition was abandoned, and the jumbie table not set, the jumbie would come out making noise all night.

For me the jumbie table commands respect, in that it makes us feel pride in our heritage. It does not spell suspicion but admiration for the practices held long ago by our ancestors. I understand that it may be a part of our African heritage to carry out this practice. Our culture is rich in history and traditions and identifies us as a people. The fact that I am in my thirties and have witness the setting of the jumbie table for many Christmas by my grandparents is indeed a compliment and honor.

Navel String Custom

A ya me barn

A ya me navel string bury

So no come cut no style pan me

Over dey dem plant me coconut tree

A de sweetest water in a de world really

Gel a de pride and joy o de family

Me spirit tek to you

So lets have a drink and be merry my dear Sue

Before sun go down

And bus stop running fu town.

My recollection of where my navel string (umbilical cord) was buried is vague, because it was overshadowed by my eldest brother’s dwarf coconut tree. I can still see the small orange coconuts. The house is on the edge of a hill and the coconut tree is planted below it. Marse Sam always bragged about the day he planted the coconut tree and how he chopped a crapaud (frog) in two and buried it with the navel string. He would say Sal that is why the coconut water so sweet.

It was recorded that “the navel was first used in popular English literature sometime before 1892.” The burying of the navel string is a custom in the Caribbean; it is a symbol of our cultural heritage and it signals an unbreakable connection to the place where we were born. I read an excerpt of  Death and Regeneration of life by Maurice Bloch and Jonathan Parry. Well, needless to say some other cultures take this navel string burying to a whole different level. The Melanesian’s account of this is so eerie I will stop right there. However, I should mention that they believe that the navel string is our connection to the earth.

The real question is how many of us pine away to return to where or navel string was buried/home?

It would also be fascinating to know if the young mothers or fathers are steeped in tradition or they are not concerned about these things. I must confess that I am still perplexed about where to plant my daughter’s navel string. For me burying the navel string has a huge significance; as burying the navel string is pleasantly reminiscent of old times.

a site about Death and Regeneration