Page 18 - Florida Sentinel 12-15-17

Tis The Season
Black History:
How Our Slave Ancestors Celebrated Christmas
During slavery, some slaves were given a day of rest while others were forced to continue work. In some parts of the country, slaves were given a yule log to burn in the big house. As long as the log burned, they were granted rest during the holiday. Sometimes the log would burn until the New Year.
During the days of rest, some slaves would hold quilting bees, with both men and women. It was also sometimes tradition that slaves could keep the money they earned for the sale of goods during the holiday.
While the holiday sea- son was meant to be a joy- ous occasion, slaves that worked inside the house would be worked hardest during Christmas, as many owners and their families
would host Christmas par- ties.
The Christmas holiday would also be a time that some slaveowners gave wine and alcoholic bever- ages to their slaves.
With business still in mind, the effects of alcohol were something unknown to many slaves, and most would overindulge. The in- creased lounge and slum- ber would discourage runaways during the break.
This was a theory held
by abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
Despite, some slaves were given passes to see nearby relatives during Christmas time and al- lowed visitors from neigh- boring plantations.
Along with the tradi- tions of the Christmas hol- iday in Western culture, slaves had dancing and singing in the slave quar- ters, perhaps because they had a day or two of rest.
Parents would give chil-
dren small, homemade to- kens.
Another celebration known as Jonkonnu, (pronounced John Canoe) is an African American holiday celebra- tion whose roots can be traced back to Jamaica and to the slave ships from West Africa.
Jonkonnu’s origin has many stories however some believe it was estab- lished by John Canoe, a legendary West African Prince, who outwitted the English and became a local hero; and others suspect-
ing it comes from the French ‘gens inconnus,’ which translates as 'un- known' or 'masked people'.
The most popular be- lief, however, is that it de- veloped from the days of slavery. The influx of Loy- alists in the late 18th Cen- tury brought many enslaved people (most from West Africa) who were given three days off at Christmas, which they cel- ebrated by singing and dancing in colorful masks, traveling from house to house, often on stilts. Junkanoo nearly van- ished after slavery was abolished, but the revival of the festival in The Ba- hamas now provides enter- tainment for many thousands.
The traditions of Christ- mas during slavery were tools for celebration in the harshest working and liv- ing conditions for our an- cestors.
PAGE 6-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2017