Lion Of Judah , Flag & Dreadlock

LION OF JUDAH

The Lion of Judah comes frm da Bible’s Book of Genesis.In Judaism,da lion symbolizes da Tribe of Judah. In Christianity, it is assumed to rpresent Jesus Christ who is dscribed S “The Lion of Judah.” 

 Haile Selassie

In Rastafari, Haile Selassie is considered to B Jah (God) n  is seen as both da reincarnation of Christ n da lion mntioned in da Bible’s Book of Revelation, therefore, he is “The Lion of Judah.”

In addition to da biblical significance ofda lion, it also represents da struggle n da strength tht rastas endured @ da hand of their oppressors.Da lion can be found on da Rastafarian flag n many other things associated wif Rastafari..

OTHER SYMBOLS

There r also a nmber of other symbols tht hve a great deal of meaning in Rstafarian culture.These symbols include: da Rastafarian flag, dreadlocks n  ganja ~

RATAFARIAN FLAG

The colors red, gold n green r closely association wif da Rastafarian Movement.Thy come frm da old Ethiopian flag used during da reign of Haile Selassie.Da clors symbolize Rstas loyalty to Selassie,Ethiopia n Africa n thy r frquently seen on clothing, hats n other decorations in jamaica

Each color of da flag stands fr smething rastas blieve in. Red stands fr da blood tht bleeds to da Earth, replenishes da land n helps to grow ganja. Green stands fr da vgetation of Africa n yellow stands fr da prosperity Africa offered b4 da extraction of diamonds n gold during slavery. It also represents da sun, which gives life to all. In addition toda clors of da flag, black is also significant to rstas.Da colors of da Ethiopian flag, along wif black,make up da colors of “Pan-African Unity” for Marcus Garvey, a man who is considered a prophet and a leader in da movement.

DREADLOCKS

It is believed thtda 1st Rastafarian dreadlocks came from Kenya in 1953 whn images ofda independence struggle in Kenya displayed ppl wearing dreads.These images mde their way to Jamaica through pblications

During tda Rastafari Movement, rastas grew n wore their hair in dreadlocks to draw a distinction frm da straight, thin hair of their oppressors.Dreads wre also a way for thm to accept personal beauty n da differences btween Jamaicans n da white ppl. In addition, dreads symbolize da mane of the Lion of Judah and the Rasta rebellion against Babylon (the capitalistic, materialistic, and oppressive world).

or Rastas,da growing of dreadlocks is also a spiritual n mental journey tht teaches patience. It is blieved tht it is ptience that allows for da hair to grow naturally without da use of cutting, combing, or washing wif anything except pure water.

Though many rastas hve dreadlocks, not all do. It is not a requirement of da religion, nor is it limited to Rastafari. Thy are worn by ppl in a no. of different cultures n religions, so dreads alone do not mke one a Rasta. Fr da Rastas who do wear dreadlocks, it is a symbol of loyalty to da religion.

GANJA

East Indians brought Ganja (also known as cannabis) to Jamaica in the late 1800s whn they 

were taken to DA island to work afta da end of slavery.The Jamaican climate proved to B da erfect place fr the plant to grow.

On da island, ganja started out as medicine used by herbalists. For Rastafaris,da smoking of ganja bcame a spiritual act often accompanied by Bible reading. Rastas believe it cleans the body and the mind and has the ability to heal the soul bringing one closer to Jah (God).

For Rastas, the illegality of the herb symbolizes the persecution of Rastafari. They see da smoking of ganja S a means to openingda mind to da truth-smething tht da Babylonian world does not want. It is also believed tht ganja aids in meditation n religious observance. Rastas also deem tht ganja hs Biblical sanction because it is talked about in the book of Genesis, Proverbs, and Psalms: “thou shalt eat the herb of the field,” Genesis 3:18.

SUMBER

~ GOOGLE ~