And finally, no trip report about Accompong Town would be complete without mentioning the January 6th Celebration. My likkle town of well less than 1000 people becomes the host to 7,000 – 8,000 visitors from all around Jamaica and the world. Planning starts around the first week of December on what entertainment, security (as if any were actually needed) and a general cleaning and painting of the town’s structures and grounds.
Many residents are employed to cut stakes and poles that are used to construct the 10 X 10’ stalls for the vendors. Everyone gets into a festive mood knowing that the holidays of Christmas, Boxing Day and the Celebration bring extra income into the town where there are virtually no jobs except farmers and shopkeepers.
On January 6th, I make my way over to the main street and stop to visit with my fellow citizens to see if I can be of any help like making a sign or setting up displays. I usually skip the formal ceremonies now as I have seen them and participated in them for well over a decade. Instead, I just try to help where help is needed.
I am not one to take a lot of pictures of people (though you see a number of them in this thread) so I am just showing a few that I took from a vantage point of Tayshan’s jewelry stall. When the night came, I made my way over to a pen where my next door neighbor was putting on a show. He had Sound Trooper with Ricky Trooper and Red Heat sound system at a bargain price of $300 Jamaican.
We partied until the sun came up. Two days later, this rainbow appeared. I have been a wanderer and a seeker of fortune all my life but here, I have truly found my “Pot ‘o Gold”.
That’s all.
Peace and Guidance
