- Also written
- John Canoe, Jonkonnu, Junkanoo
What “Jonkanoo” means
Jonkanoo is a traditional masquerade of costumed dancers and musicians that parades through the streets, especially at Christmas time.
Examples
Jonkanoo a come dung di road
Jonkanoo is coming down the road.
How to use it
Mostly heard in talk about Christmas and tradition. Many people today know it as something older relatives remember, though it is still performed.
Where usage varies
Spellings vary widely. In the Bahamas the related festival is called Junkanoo.
Cultural context
A Christmas-season street masquerade with roots in West African celebration. Traditional characters include figures such as Horse Head and Pitchy-Patchy.
Where it comes from
The source of the name is debated.