Meaning
A masquerade tradition performed at Christmas, in which costumed, masked characters parade through the streets to fife-and-drum music. Figures like Pitchy-Patchy, Horse-head and Devil dance from house to house — a heritage rooted in the slavery-era Christmas holidays.
Examples
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Di Jonkonnu band come dung di road a Christmas.
The Jonkonnu band came down the road at Christmas.
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Di pickney dem fraid a di Jonkonnu mask.
The children were scared of the Jonkonnu masks.
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Pitchy-Patchy a one a di Jonkonnu character.
Pitchy-Patchy is one of the Jonkonnu characters.
Origin
Of West African origin, likely from an Akan name; anglicised as 'John Canoe'. The masquerade blends African masking traditions with the colonial Christmas calendar.
How it’s used
A cherished, sometimes fearsome, Christmas heritage performance. Spelled many ways, and shared with the Bahamas as 'Junkanoo'.