Junkanoo, named after the West African John Canoe Festival, originated in the Bahamas around the 17th century as a masquerade. Slaves with their faces hidden under a flour paste, celebrated on Boxing Day and the day after Christmas. Later, flour paste was replaced by wire masks held on a stick.
This
holiday was granted to slaves the day after Christmas, when they were given the
boxes left over from their master's gifts. These boxes usually were sent from
England and were well-crafted from fine wood. Hence the holiday is known as Boxing
Day. Junkanoo parades take place on some islands to commemorate
the day.
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