The Roots of the Pinkster Festivals
Dutch settlers originally brought Pinkster celebrations to America in the 17th century. For the Dutch, it was a celebration of the change of the seasons and the springtime renewal of life. The celebration corresponded with the Episcopal Whitsunday.While the holiday had Dutch origins, by the 19th century, in Albany, New York, it was primarily a black holiday. Thus, as celebrated by slaves, the holiday became a combination of its Dutch roots and the African culture of slaves.
The Pinkster Festival
Prior to the festival, preparations had to be made. On Pinkster Hill, arbors were constructed to form an amphitheater in front of the arbor where King Charles would sit. The arbors contained fruit, cake, beer, and alcohol. King Charles was typically an older slave who wielded considerable power during the holiday.On the Monday after Pinkster and Whitsunday, whites and blacks waited at Pinkster Hill for the appearance of King Charles. While being followed by a procession, King Charles made his way through town to the hill. The display of colors was important and a portrait of the King was also part of the parade.
Once on the hill, a welcoming ceremony was performed in his honor. He then proceeded through the camp and collected one shilling from every tent occupied by a black and two shillings from those occupied by a white. If payment was refused, the individual's tent was demolished.
The festival then continued for three to four days and nights. Sports and other activities were played. Dancing was also part of the festival. The highlight, Toto or the Guinea dance, was performed to the beating of a Guinea drum in the amphitheater. At the end of the festival, the final ceremony encompassed the retreat of the King through the city.
While the holiday was probably a welcome break from the daily hard work that slaves endured, it certainly did not minimize the realities of slavery. For the most part, slaves in Albany spent the majority of their time working and Pinkster only represented a very small amount of time that they had with autonomy.
The Demise of the Pinkster Festival
In 1811, a city ordinance was passed banning Pinkster. Historians believe that the city council sought to eliminate the festival because it lacked appeal to the emerging middle class. Eventually, the law was eliminated, but Pinkster never again became a prominent part of Albany life.
