Pinkster Celebration

Celebrated over several days, Pinkster was an early 17th century festival that represented an important opportunity for enslaved Africans to gather outside of laboring and the festival continues to be honored as an embodiment of New York’s enslaved peoples to build community amongst themselves and resist bondage.

Originally a celebration of Pentecost, Dutch settlers brought the observation of the holiday to New York during their early 17th century colonization of the land and peoples. While enslaved Africans and African Americans had limited opportunities for respite, Pinkster became one of the few instances where they were able to openly rest and practice their varied cultures among themselves.

Generations of Africans and people of African descent incorporated their traditions from music and food to dance and religious rituals, completely transforming the holiday and maintaining their ancestral traditions.

We are excited to partner with Chief Baba Neil Clarke to bring the festival of Pinkster to Weeksville, with opportunities to learn more about the history of Black foodways, folkways, and music histories.