Reggae is a music genre that has been around for almost 60 years and originated in Jamaica. This genre of music evolved from several different parent genres, including jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, calypso, and Afro-Caribbean music. It is also a musical genre that has earned its own holiday.

A holiday that celebrates not only its music but also the culture that created it and the culture that it has influenced over the years. This holiday is aptly named International Reggae Day, and it is observed annually on July 1st. This is a great day for people to enjoy Reggae, or if they are not familiar with this musical genre, to try it out for the first time.

The History of International Reggae Day

As we implied earlier, Reggae is a musical genre that first began in the late 1960s. One of the first popular songs to actually use the term “Reggae” was “Do the Reggay” by Toots and the Maytals. Reggae is a type of music that is influenced by American rhythm and blues, as well as jazz, ska, rocksteady, and various Afro-Caribbean styles of music.

International Reggae Day was founded in 1991 by Andrea Davis, although it would be several years before it was put into practice. The purpose of this holiday was to create an annual global Reggae party that people around the world could enjoy.

It is placed on July 1st because that is when Winnie Mandela gave a speech on the inspiration Reggae music had on the South African people in their fight against apartheid. The first observance of this holiday was on July 1st, 1994, and this holiday has been observed ever since.

Some Interesting Facts About Reggae

Below are some very interesting facts that we’ve learned about Reggae. Let’s take a look at these facts before we move on to how this holiday is observed. With that being said, let’s begin.

• Many people believe the term Reggae comes from the Jamaican slang word “regerege,” a word that means ragged.
• Reggae began in Kingston, where studios such as Treasure Isle and Studio One were located.
• Reggae is rooted in spiritually conscious lyrics that are often associated with Rastafarianism.

Observing International Reggae Day

There are numerous ways for people to observe this holiday; probably more than we can list in just one article. Even so, let us give some suggestions on how people can enjoy International Reggae Day.

They can begin by listening to Reggae music or attending a concert, they can host their own Caribbean-themed dance party, or they can watch a documentary on the creation of this music genre. Fans can also spread the news about this holiday online using the hashtag #InternationalReggaeDay on social media.