The Rastafarians have their roots in the teachings of Jamaican Black nationalist Marcus Garvey, who in the 1930’s preached a message of Black self-empowerment and initiated the "Back to Africa" movement. This movement called for all Blacks to return to their ancestral home, specifically Ethiopia. Marcus Garvey taught self-reliance in Jamaica where he was born, as well as abroad and preached a "back to Africa movement" consciousness. Marcus Garvey in 1920 said "look to Africa, when a Black king shall be crowned, for the day of deliverance is at hand". Many people thought the prophecy was fulfilled when in 1930; Ras Tafari was crowned emperor Haile Selassie 1 of Ethiopia and proclaimed "king of kings, lord of lords, and conquering lion of the Tribe of Judah." Haile Selassie claimed to be a direct descendant of King David, the 225th ruler in an unbroken line of Ethiopian Kings from the time of Solomon and Sheba. He and all his followers took great pride in being Black and wanted to regain the Black heritage that was lost by loosing faith straying from the holy ways.
Rastafarians have some symbols. Their unique hairstyle known as the "dreadlocks" which many people feel is wild is one of the reasons the Rastafarians obtained a negative image in society. Rasta, which is short for Rastafarians, adopted the dreadlocks while in the hill country in Jamaica where the movement developed its early characteristics. Another trait that has contributed to the Rastafarian’s unique image is their use of "ganja" (marijuana) in their rituals. For Rastafarians, smoking marijuana is a spiritual act, often accompanied by Bible study; they consider it a sacrament that cleans the body and mind, heals the soul, exalts the consciousness, facilitates peacefulness, brings pleasure, and brings them closer to Jah. The diet is also very important for them. Rastafarians eat limited types of meat in accordance with the dietary Laws of the Old Testament; they do not eat shellfish or pork. Others abstain from all meat and flesh whatsoever, asserting that to touch meat is to touch death (with the exception of fish which can be eaten), and is therefore a violation of the Nazirite oath. However, the prohibition against meat only applies to those who are currently fulfilling a Nazirite vow, for the duration of the vow. Many Rastafarians maintain a vegan or vegetarian diet all of the time. One of the more obvious symbols of the Rastafarians is colors. These are red, gold, and green. These colors were taken from the Garvey movement. The color red stands for the Church Triumphant, which is the church of the Rastafarians. It also symbolizes the blood that martyrs have shed in the history of the Rastafarians. The yellow represents the wealth of the homeland. Green represents the beauty and vegetation of Ethiopia, the Promised Land. Sometimes Black is used to represent the color of Africans, to whom 98% of the Jamaicans are descended.
There are two types of Rasta religious ceremonies. Reasoning is a simple event where the Rastafarians gather; smoke marijuana; and discuss ethical, social and religious issues. The person honored by being allowed to light the herb says a short prayer beforehand, and it is passed in a clockwise fashion except in time of war it is passed counterclockwise. A binghi or grounation is a holy day; the name binghi is derived from Nyabinghi, believed to be an ancient, and now extinct, order of militant blacks in eastern Africa that vowed to end oppression. Binghis are marked by much dancing, singing, feasting and the smoking of marijuana, and can last for several days.
Some important dates when grounations may take place are:
January 7 - Orthodox (Ethiopian) Christmas
February 6 - Bob Marley's birthday
April 21 - The anniversary of Emperor Haile Selassie I visit to Jamaica, also known as Grounation Day.
July 23 - The birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie I
August 17 - The birthday of Marcus Garvey
November 2 - The coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I
