Jonkonnu, junkanoo jonkanoo, jankunu, john canoe or johnkankus is a musical street masquerade, believed to be of west african origin, which occurs in many towns across the caribbean every december 26 and new years day. The pitchy patchy costume made entirely of colorful rags represents many familys spirits. One little girl, who seemed puzzled by the spectacles, screamed and ran behind her mother when the devil from the grange hill jonkunnu band came within a foot of her. The largest junkanoo parade happens in the capital new providence. At devon house, frightened children clutched their mothers as the characters such as the devil, the pitchy patchy and the horse head approached them in menacing fashion.
The national library of jamaicas nlj holdings constitute the most comprehensive collection of jamaican documentary offering an invaluable representation of jamaicas history and heritage. Our pj masks costumes are not only perfect for halloween they offer a great way for adults to encourage creative, constructive and imaginative play. Aug 19, 2018 the main feature of the parade is a band of masqueraders usually dressed in hideous costumes and known by names such as. Jamaican of coconut trees, christmas bask in the joy of. Roots is found mainly in eastern jamaica, and is strongly african influenced animal heads, pitchy patchy, and devil. The traditional set of jonkonnu characters includes bellywoman, policeman, devil, horsehead, pitchy patchy, cowhead and househead to name a few. Train alongside the pj masks as they practice their super moves. Traditional jonkonnu features costumed characters such as king, queen, devil, pitchy patchy, belly woman, cow head, policeman, horse head, wild apache indian, bride and house head. Catboy is blue, owlette is red, and gekko is green. Culture and caribbean festivals the caribbean region can be described as a sphere of cultural variety.
Pitchy patchy s role in the carnival is to keep masqueraders and the surrounding crowd in order by cracking a cattle whip. Transform into your favorite pj masks hero with the pj masks owlette character mask. Traditionally, men wearing white, mesh masks play the characters which include the horned cow head, the policeman, horsehead, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, pitchypatchy, and sometimes a bride and house head which is an image of a great house carried by the reveller on his head. The traditional set of jonkonnu characters included the horned cow head, policeman, horse head, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, pitchypatchy and sometimes a bride and house head, who carried an image of a great house on his head. Your child will love to dress up in the wide variety of pj masks apparel. Pj masks is a disney junior cartoon that premiered on september 18, 2015. Pj masks tv series 2015 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
Symbolically, ruth carter binds together mali, whose brilliant indigo mudcloth comprise the border security soldiers forcefields, the ndebele people, whose idzila permanent necklaces are the neck armor of the dora milaje, and jamaica, whose jonkonnu festival s animal masks are evoked by the masks of the black panther. Junkanoo is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes in many towns across the bahamas every boxing day december 26 and new years day january 1. These cultural parades are predominantly showcased in the bahamas. There are also junkanoo parades in miami in june and key west in october, where local black populations have their. Pitchy patchy, not jackinthegreen, was the original jonkonnu figure. To enhance access to its rich and varied collections, the national nlj has digitized thousands of historical photographs, prints, drawings, pamphlets, programmes, manuscripts, books, rare maps and. You can find clothing items for pretty much every part of their daily wardrobe, from tees and hoodies they can wear out and about, to pajamas at bedtime, and even swimsuits and underwear. Dec 17, 2010 traditionally, men wearing white, mesh masks play the characters which include the horned cow head, the policeman, horsehead, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, pitchypatchy, and sometimes a bride and house head which is an image of a great house carried by the reveller on his head.
Men in strange masks and brightly coloured costumes walking on stilts terrified many of us as children. Among the mende, igbo and the yoruba, masks were used in religious festivals and initiation rites. They also danced the jig step, using hatchets and bows and arrows in exciting gestures. John canoe was most prolific during the plantation era where slaves used jonkonnu as a. Its role in the carnival is to keep masqueraders and the surrounding crowd in order by cracking a cattle whip. Browse items national library of jamaica digital collection. The character pitchy patchy is perhaps the most popular jonkonnu figure. But the history of jonkonnu still fascinates us as adults, especially as we get closer to christmas and this holiday tradition.
Jan 28, 2010 jonkonnu, or jonkanoo john canoe is parade that links music, dance, symbols and mime. Jamaica is credited with the longest running tradition of jonkanoo. Edward longs the history of jamaica or, general survey. But by night, they are catboy, gekko and owlette, the pj masks, who protect their home town from the antics of the nighttime villains romeo, luna girl, and night ninja. Jonkonnu is a band of masquerades usually performed in towns and villages at christmas time. See more ideas about jamaica, jamaica history and reggae. Jonkonnu, or jonkanoo john canoe is parade that links music, dance, symbols and mime. Another character that may reflect an african heritage is pitchypatchy. Lessons on the jonkonnu cow head mask jamaica observer. Pitchy patchy also did quick steps sideways from foot to foot, which caused his costume of brightly colored rags and tatters to tremble. Jonkonnu characters the traditional set of jonkonnu characters included the horned cow head, policeman, horse head, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, pitchy patchy and sometimes a bride and house head who carried an image of a great house on his head.
When your child is out and about, they can even show their love for their favorite heroes every day with our colorful clothing and accessories. Kingston, jamaica jonkunoo characters pitchy patchy, belly woman and cow head along constant spring road saturday. Pitchy patchy and devil, john canoe characters, dancing during jonkonnu john canoe parade. Thirtysix complete costumes and numerous masks capture the vitality of artists from nine caribbean countries. The traditional characters wear white mesh masks, and go by the names of the horned cow head, policeman, horse head, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, and pitchypatchy. These cultural parades are predominantly showcased in the bahamas where the music is also mainstreamed. The actors do not speak during the performance, and they do not remove their masks in public. Two main divisions of jonkonnu are roots and fancy dress. The jonkonnu customs go as far back as the days of slavery, at that time the bands were very large and elaborate.
Other john canoe characters and spectators are looking on. The three kids are connor, amaya, and greg who turn into catboy, owlette, and gekko, respectively. Dec 11, 2019 junkanoo or jonkonnu is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes of mixed african origin in many islands across the english speaking caribbean every boxing day 26 december and new years day 1 january, the same as kakamotobi or the fancy dress festival of ghana. Caribbean cultural expression pt 1 oer linkedin slideshare. The costumes were colourful, even devil who, although dressed in black, had red decorations here and there, and pitchy patchy, as his name suggests, wore a costume made up of very colourful strips of cloth sewn in tiers. The jonkonnu revelers parade through the streets in colorful masquerade costumes. Get behindthescenes and extras all on disney junior. Recreate your favorite scenes from the hit tv series, pj masks with the pj masks cat boy and romeo figure pack you can even create new actionpacked adventures by pitting crime fighting cat boy against the mischievous mad scientist, romeo. The costumed characters were accompanied by musicians who played wellknown traditional songs on the bamboo fife, bass and rattling drums. It is believed that this character represents the overseer of the plantation era who usually appeared mounted on a horse and clutching a whip. He is dressed in shredded strips of cloth bearing bright. He also jumped and spun in the air and turned cartwheels.
Although many charactertypes exist in jonkonnu, there are some stock characters. He is usually the most flamboyant and athletic troupe member and appears in both jonkonnu and masquerade bands. This high quality mask is made of durable plastic in owlettes signature colors and can be paired with the pj masks dress up set for the ultimate night time hero costume. Dec 22, 2015 another character that may reflect an african heritage is pitchy patchy. His costume is made of layered strips of brightly colored fabric. The following characters appeared in the episode training with the pj masks. Using objects to convey meaning and break silences. The saint lucia national dress head piece, called the tete en. It originally premiered in the united states on september 18, 2015, and finished premiering on february 17, 2017. It is a jamaican traditional dance form of african descent. It is based on les pyjamasques, a series of french picture books created by romuald racioppo by day, they are connor, greg and amaya, three regular kids. The largest junkanoo parade happens in the capital nassau, new providence.
Masqueraders are normally dressed in costumes such as king and queen, cow head, horse head, devil, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. The acceptance of jackinthegreen was logical because of his similarity to the original circumcision figures of west africa and the local bush symbols. There are also junkanoo parades in miami in june and key west in october, where local black american populations have their roots in the bahamas. Bettelheim assigns fancy dress to european origins, but the. Traditional christmas celebration in jamaica the georgian. With the power of their animal amulets, greg becomes gekko, amaya becomes owlette, and connor becomes catboy. The character belly woman, a pregnant woman is primarily played by a male. Called jonkonnu, this caribbean christmas celebration blended african and english masquerade and mumming traditions. The parade and festival probably arrived with african slaves. Characters in the johnkonnu masquerade are quite frightening to onlookers.
The costumes were colourful, even devil who, although dressed in black, had red decorations here and there, and pitchypatchy, as his name suggests, wore a costume made up of very colourful strips of cloth sewn in tiers. In jamaica, john canoe is viewed as a recreational activity and is usually reserved for the christmas period when there emerges a band of diverse masqueraders. Jonkonnu festival article about jonkonnu festival by the. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options.
One of the original figures of jamaican carnival, pitchy patchy is usually represented by a suit made of tattered, colorful pieces of cloth. Junkanoo or jonkonnu is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes of mixed african origin in many islands across the english speaking caribbean every boxing day 26 december and new years day 1 january, the same as kakamotobi or the fancy dress festival of ghana. Pieces in the exhibit range from small wiremesh masks to 16foot articulated costumes. Today these mysterious bands with their creative costumes appear more at cultural events such as christmas, emancipation and independence days. Traditional jonkonnu features costumed characters such as king, queen, devil, pitchypatchy, belly woman, cow head, policeman, horse head, wild apache indian, bride and house head.
Indian chiefs moved with long steps and menacing actions. Jonkonnu variations in spelling has its roots in west africa. All the artists work with bright, colorful materials such as mirrors, sequins, rhinestones, feathers, mylar, crepe papper, beads and plastic. Their outfits may look like pajamas, but theyre the pj masks. Pitchy patchy was a pretty sight, a restless character, twirling and leaping and dancing everywhere. The carnevale network jonkunnu by hazel d williams. The skull is painted and eyes are added to give a real life experience. A synopsis is intended to be a very detailed description of what. The characters included the king and queen, cow head, horse head, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. Jonkonnu bands play drums, rattles, fifes and even bottles and graters. Pitchy patchy is a jamaican jankunu festival figure.
The largest parade, junkanoo, happens in nassau, the capital of the bahamas. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. According to john campbell, caribbean culture and cultural expressions are transmissible and always evolving. Sep 01, 2011 jamaica is credited with the longest running tradition of jonkanoo. Music of the anglophone caribbean junkanoo is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes of akan origin in many islands across the bahamas every boxing day december 26 and new years day january 1, the same as kakamotobi or the fancy dress festival. The figure is clad in a suit made of tattered, colorful pieces of cloth.
At one time jonkonnu celebrations spread as far as the southern united states. Horsehead, cowhead, belly woman, pitchy patchy, houseboat head, and actor boy. Some of the major characters include pitchypatchy, horse head and belly woman. Jonkonnu, or john canoe british influenced writers spell it, is a folk festival across several caribbean counties around christmas time. Pitchypatchy also did quick steps sideways from foot to foot, which caused his costume of brightly colored rags and tatters to tremble. Jonkonnu article about jonkonnu by the free dictionary.
Yoruba ritual masks were more elaborate in design and included human features frequently combined with animals, snakes or geometrical forms. The figure set comes with articulated 3 cat boy and romeo figures plus romeos remote control accessory. Pj masks is a show on disney junior about three 6yearolds who are typical kids during the day and superheroes at night. There was no reason for pitchy patchy to be banished or to remain underground after emancipation. Jonkonnu is a band of masqueraders usually seen in towns and villages across the island at christmastime. The main feature of the parade is a band of masqueraders usually dressed in hideous costumes and known by names such as.
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