TRYON PALACE HISTORY CENTER

Tryon Palace in New Bern, N.C. celebrates Jonkonnu, a yuletide festival that dates to the early 17th century. Enslaved Africans started Jonkonnu, an annual Christmastime masquerade and dance tradition associated with Africa, Jamaica and other Caribbean islands.

The traditions of Christmas have been carried wide and far across the globe.

Music, dance, and gifts remain three staples of celebration that bring joy throughout the holiday season. However, Black Americans have historically been outcasts from customs routinely observed; dating back to the early 17th century, enslaved Africans faced extremely harsh conditions during this time.

According to Robert E. May, a professor of history at Purdue University and author of “Yuletide in Dixie: Slavery, Christmas and Southern Memory,” slave owners feared rebellion during the season, which led to preemptive shows of discipline. The buying and selling of workers often continued during the holidays. In addition to their annual hiring out of enslaved workers, some of whom would be shipped off, away from their families, on New Year’s Day, widely referred to as “heartbreak day.”

To maintain a spirit of hope, many celebrated Jonkonnu, an annual Christmastide masquerade and dance tradition associated with Africa, Jamaica, and other islands in the Caribbean. It’s a parade of sorts filled with vibrant fabrics woven into colorful costumes on participants who wear masks as they travel door to door dancing, singing, and clapping. It was widely commemorated in North Carolina.

“This was one way the enslaved people could put aside their daily toils and enjoy themselves in the celebration after working 364 days from sunup to sundown. The only day they could celebrate marriage, death, birth of babies, etc,” said Sharon Bryant, the African American outreach coordinator at Tryon Palace History Center.

Since 1998, the center has been conducting research to ensure the tradition lives on. Every year, on the second and third Saturday in December it hosts a Jonkonnu performance on the grounds in New Bern.

“During the performance a town crier will come out and tell what the crowd should expect to see,” said Bryant. “The drummers and dancers follow as they drums are playing,
singing, and dancing to the rhythm of each beat. Led by the Fancy Man, in his fancy clothes; tall hat, followed by the Rag Man, his costume of many colors, each rag representing his ancestry and freedom.”

The performance also consisted of a request for gifts.

“The Fancy Man would go up to the master’s house, knock on the door, and the master himself would come out and drop a coin in his old tin cup,” Bryant said.
The performance usually consists of up to 40 participants but has been reduced to 20 due to COVID-19 concerns. Still, Tryon Palace, the only local place that still celebrates Jonkonnu, there’s great pride in maintaining the tradition.

The festival falls in line with the spirit of festivity. Those interested in experiencing it can attend the candle lighting on Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. For tickets and information check out www.tryonpalace.org/candlelight

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