What are the Jonkonnu characters?
Jonkonnu is a band of masquerades usually performed in towns and villages at Christmas time. The characters included the King and Queen, Cow Head, Horse Head, Pitchy Patchy, red Indians and Belly Woman.
What is the purpose of Jonkonnu?
The ‘Jonkonnu’ Festival is secular in nature and its performance at Christmas time is merely historical. It was conceived as a festive opportunity afforded the slave class by the planter class, as Christmas was one of the few periods when the slaves were relieved of their duties.
What is the origin of Jonkonnu?
Jonkonnu, (pronounced John Canoe) is an African American holiday celebration whose roots can be traced back to Jamaica and to the slave ships from West Africa. Historical records mention celebrations of Jonkonnu taking place near Edenton, N.C., as early as 1824.
How is Jonkonnu performed?
Revelers participating in Jonkonnu would dress in masks and multi-colored costumes, form a parade line, and travel from house-to-house clapping, singing, and dancing, During the festivities the performers could put aside their daily toils and enjoy themselves in the celebration.
Where does Mento come from?
Mento is often confused with calypso, a musical form from Trinidad and Tobago. Although the two share many similarities, they are separate and distinct musical forms….
| Mento | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Kaiso calypso Kumina music |
| Cultural origins | Late 19th century, Jamaica |
| Derivative forms | Ska |
When was Junkanoo started?
Junkanoo, named after the West African John Canoe Festival, originated in the Bahamas around the 17th century as a masquerade. Slaves with their faces hidden under a flour paste, celebrated on Boxing Day and the day after Christmas.
What do Jamaicans do for Christmas?
Jamaicans celebrate by going to church, exchanging gifts with their families, and gathering for a large meal. Dinner on Christmas Day, the biggest feast for Jamaicans, includes chicken, oxtail, curry goat, roast ham, and rice and gungo peas. (Gungo peas, a Christmas specialty for Jamaica, usually ripen in December.
What foods are eaten on Christmas in Jamaica?
A Guide To Jamaican Christmas Dishes
- Sorrel. Most visitors to a Jamaican home at Christmas will expect a glass or two of Jamaican sorrel, often accompanied by a slice of Christmas cake.
- Christmas cake or Christmas pudding.
- Curried goat.
- Egg punch.
- Gungo peas.
- Christmas Ham.
What is mento rhythm?
Mento is a style of Jamaican folk music that predates and has greatly influenced ska and reggae music. It is a fusion of African rhythmic elements and European elements, which reached peak popularity in the 1940s and 1950s. Mento is often confused with calypso, a musical form from Trinidad and Tobago.
