Groundation Day is a very important holiday for the Rastafarian religion. Unfortunately, it’s often one of the most little understood days as well. In our article, we’re going to explain what Groundation Day is and explore some of its origins. We will also briefly explain how the holiday is celebrated by Rastafarians.

A Basic Understanding of Groundation Day

Crowds greeting Ethiopia’s Emperor Hailie Selassie, April 21, 1966.

Groundation day is a very important holiday for practitioners of the Rastafarian religion. One of the most confusing things about this particular holiday has to do with the way it is spelled. Especially in Western culture, it is commonly spelled Groundation Day. This is the most common way to find it with internet search results and is also the most frequently used spelling on most mass-produced greeting cards.

However, it’s originally spelled Grounation Day. Either one is appropriate and the one you decide to use basically boils down to personal choice and the area that you live in. As for the day it is celebrated, Groundation Day occurs each year on April 21. The origins of the holiday are closely tied to the arrival of the Ethiopian emperor, Haile Selassie.

Haile Selassie originally touched down at 1:30 pm on April 21 in 1966. The Palisadoes Airport in Jamaica was so flooded with visitors that it was said that the emperor was not even able to leave the plane. Ultimately, the Jamaican leader, Ras Mortimer Planno, was responsible for negotiating a proper entrance for the Ethiopian emperor and helping to clear and manage the crowd. This was the first and only visit the Ethiopian emperor ever made to Jamaica.

Understanding the Spiritual Importance of Emperor Haile Selassie

The main reason that Emperor Haile Selassie played such an important role in the spiritual development of the Rastafarian religion can ultimately be tied to a famous Jamaican-American black nationalist known as Marcus Garvey. His most famous quote was “Look to Africa, when a black king shall be crowned for the day of deliverance is at hand!”.

Already viewed as a prophet-like figure, his famous saying lead to the Rastafarian movement viewing Haile Selassie as a messianic individual. The primary reason for this is likely due to the history relating to the dynasty that Haile Selassie inherited. The history of Ethiopian rule was found to share many traditions with both the famous King of Solomon and Queen of Sheba.

Ultimately, Emperor Haile Selassie maintained his position from 1916 to 1930. It’s important to note that the Emperor was actually a practicing Ethiopian Orthodox Christian that maintained his spiritual beliefs throughout his entire life. However, he never once rebuked practicing Rastafarians for their beliefs. In fact, his visit was seen as encouraging since he handed out gold medallions to several Rastafari elders.

A Famous Conversion that Occured on Groundation Day

On Groundation Day, Bob Marley’s wife was watching the events unfold first-hand. Prior to the event, she was not a believer in the Rastafarian religion. However, it’s reported that she saw a stigma on the Emperor’s hand as he was waving to the crowd. Believing this to be a sign of divinity, she quickly converted to the religion. It’s important to note that shortly before seeing the emperor wave to the crowd from his limousine is where Groundation Day got its name.

The Emperor was expected to cross a red carpet during the early stages of his arrival. Instead, he refused and walked along a non-covered path. His desire to make contact with the ground beneath him is the entire reason the holiday received its unique name.

Celebrating Groundation Day

Feast Abound

One of the main ways that Rastafarians celebrate Groundation Day is with plenty of feasting events. Although the Rastafarian religion is relatively young, it’s important to note that there is already a wide range of dietary convictions in place for the religion. In fact, the majority of Rastafarians adhere to a diet that they call “Ital”, derived from the word vital.

As you may have guessed, this type of diet calls for the consumption of food in the most unrefined ways possible. In addition, many Rastafarians are vegetarian. The few that do eat meat typically will only consume fish and “clean” meat. Notable meat sources that are not part of the Rastafarian diet include both shellfish and pork.

The whole reason for this way of living is to make a better connection with the earth around you. With this in mind, Rastas typically include a wide variety of fresh produce selections. In fact, many Rastas are turning to organic cooking as a way to keep their bodies pure. Chemical additives and artificial preservatives are completely forbidden in the Rastafarian diet.

A very popular dish for many Rastafarians and Jamaicans is sauteed ackee. The fruit must be fully ripe to avoid sickness and is said to taste very much like scrambled eggs. This makes it one of the most common breakfast dishes around. Jamaican patties are another very popular dish that you will likely see at Groundation Day feasts. They are typically made with tofu, soy chunks, ackee, and an interesting vegetable called callaloo.

Music

Music plays a key role in any Groundation Day celebration for Rastafarians. Long known for their reggae music style, the signature drumming is meant to help immerse yourself spiritually. It’s very common for it to be used alongside important ceremonies called Reasoning sessions.

In addition to playing an important role spiritually, the music is used as a way to liven up social events and to inspire a positive and carefree atmosphere. Ultimately, it’s one of those core components that Rastafarians and visitors can both enjoy during Groundation Day celebrations.

Summing Up

You should now have a sound understanding of Groundation Day and the important role it plays in the Rastafarian religion. With all of the festivities that occur during this important event, it’s great to know that even non-members of the Rastafarian faith can enjoy the vast array of cultural festivities that occur. If you’ve already experienced a Groundation Day celebration for yourself, tell us about your experience.

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