Blackface may feel like a relic of the past, but in the modern day it still appears in festivals, performances, and even pop culture across the globe. From Europe’s holiday processions to Asian fashion trends, these ten traditions keep the debate alive and the cameras rolling.
10 Balthazar
Balthazar is one of the three Magi who brings gifts to children during Christmas celebrations in Spain. Because the biblical Balthazar is traditionally depicted as a Black king, many Spanish towns still feel compelled to portray him with darkened skin.
The practice has sparked heated debate, especially after Madrid announced plans to hire a Black actor for the role. Smaller villages, however, often lack local performers of color, so the custom of painting a white actor’s face black persists.
City council members usually get priority for the part, and because the visual of a Black‑skinned Balthazar is considered essential, the tradition endures despite growing criticism.
Modern Day Debate
Advocates argue that the blackened face is a faithful nod to the Magi’s heritage, while opponents contend that any form of blackface perpetuates harmful stereotypes, regardless of intent.
9 Zwarte Piet
Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete, travels alongside Saint Nicholas in Dutch and Belgian parades. The character is portrayed with dark curly hair, bright red lips, and a pitch‑black face, originally imagined as a Moorish servant.
Recent years have seen fierce controversy. Some claim the figure has no racist roots and is merely a harmless tradition, while others argue that the exaggerated facial features are undeniably offensive by today’s standards.
Supporters also point to a historical narrative that the character was meant to soften a frightening gargoyle, turning him into a friendly helper for children.
8 Morris Dancers, Shrewsbury Folk Festival
The Morris dance, dating back to the 16th century along the England‑Wales border, traditionally involves performers painting their faces black. One theory says the practice began when winter‑time beggars blackened their faces to hide their identities; another suggests it mimics African dancers.
In 2016, the Shrewsbury Folk Festival banned the black‑face element, marking the last year the festival allowed such acts.
While many argue the ban erases a non‑racist folk tradition, others say it aligns the festival with contemporary understandings of blackface.
7 Haji Firuz
Iran’s Haji Firuz appears during the holiday season, resembling a Black‑skinned Santa figure. The character is believed to represent an African slave serving his master, and his accompanying song even references the servitude.
Historically, slaves arrived in Iran via the Indian Ocean trade, and slavery persisted legally until 1929. Today, Iran’s own people of color sometimes find the portrayal offensive.
6 Britannia Coconut Dancers
The Britannia Coconut Dancers, a Morris‑style troupe from Bacup, England, don a red‑and‑white hooped skirt and a blackened face. Their roots are traced to Moorish tin miners who settled in the town centuries ago.
Despite modern criticism, the group continues to perform, arguing that the darkened faces simply echo the soot‑covered looks of miners after a hard day’s work.
5 Darkie Day
Padstow’s Darkie Day, held on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, stems from pagan customs. Performers dress in blackface, a disguise that historically let them act wildly for money and food.
When American minstrel shows grew popular, the Padstow festivities adopted some of their racist elements, including the use of the N‑word in certain songs. Police have even been called in to film the event on two occasions.
4 Ganguro
Ganguro is a Japanese fashion subculture where teenage girls emulate American hip‑hop aesthetics, often painting their faces black, adding glittery makeup, bleaching their hair, and wearing vivid clothing.
Some view it as a rebellion against school uniforms and conventional life, while others see it simply as admiration for hip‑hop icons.
3 Kaapse Klopse
South Africa’s Kaapse Klopse is an annual New Year’s festival that includes a minstrel‑style show with performers in blackface. The tradition likely borrowed from U.S. minstrel shows.
Given South Africa’s fraught history of apartheid and systemic racism, the continuation of blackface in this celebration has sparked ongoing debate, even though the country no longer enforces segregation.
2 Rats And Star
Japan’s J‑pop group Rats and Star, popular since the 1980s, has consistently performed in blackface. The controversy intensified after a photo of the group preparing to appear on TV with Momoiro Clover Z went viral, drawing criticism from outlets like The New York Times.
1 The Thai Media
Thailand’s media landscape has seen multiple blackface incidents. In 2016, comedian Pajaree Na Nakorn wore blackface at a party, and in 2013 a Dunkin’ Donuts ad featured a woman with a painted black face. Both were pulled after international backlash, though many Thai viewers saw no problem, insisting the intent was comedic, not racist.
American travel blogger Nina Bosken, who lives in Spain, notes that such portrayals often spark more outrage abroad than at home.