The "Jonkonn" Festival is secular in nature and its performance at Christmas time is merely historical. It was conceived as a festive opportunity afforded the slave class by the planter class, as Christmas was one of the few periods when the slaves were relieved of their duties. Jonkonnu dancers most often wore costumes that would depict a cow, a horse, the devil, the different categories of warriors and Indians, as well as a character known as "Pitchy-Patchy."
Pitchy-Patchy was usually the most flamboyant and athletic troupe member and appeared in both Jonkonnu and Masquerade bands. His costume would be made of layered strips of brightly colored fabric and layers of plant leaves.
The Devil carried a pitchfork and would wear a cowbell attached to his backside. The entire costume is black. Meanwhile, another male would play Belly Woman, a pregnant lady whose antics, especially her ability to make her belly move in time to the music, were designed to amuse the onlookers.Warrior Jonkonnu wears a foil-covered cardboard heart on his chest and strands of beads; his wooden sword is painted silver. In addition to the obligatory head cloth and mesh mask worn by all performers, warrior wears a cone-shaped headdress with feather or groups of feathers at the top of the cone, which is adorned with mirrors, cutouts and old newspaper photographs. Wild Indian wears a very similar costume with the exception that he carries a tall cane and cross-bow.
