Carnival

Since the beginning of the year and for some since Christmas, tourists have been flocking to Trinidad for "The Greatest Show on Earth", Carnival. Trinidad carnival is I believe the largest street party in the world. Street party being a bit of a misnomer since it is more of a take over everything party. It is also not isolated to just this coming weekend but is preceded by various fetes and events that have been taking place since the beginning of the year.

No Trinidadian (trini) will ever not know when Ash Wednesday is because it is the day after Carnival is over. Many will see Carnival as hedonistic, and in many ways it is, but it does have it roots in Catholic culture. The roots are just deeply buried these days.

Carnival or carne vale aka farewell to flesh or meat was the fete (there's that word again) that French colonials threw to get rid of all the alcohol, meat and fats before the start of Lent. The fete or big party was scandalous even in those days because they were considered hidden days where anything could happen. People wore masks and engaged in what was considered risqué in those days. The servants and the slave meanwhile mimicked and mocked their bosses by dressing and moving liked them as they enjoyed their own Carnival in the background.

Carnival is my culture. It has many beautiful faces besides the nakedness that some people love. The steelpan (invented here), calypso and soca. The kiddies carnival that takes place this weekend before the adults on Monday and Tuesday showcase the talent of our mas men. The adults have a great artistry to their costumes as well but most bands just fall back on "bikinis and beads".

J'ouvert, Dimanche Gras and two days off fron work. I'm in.

It's Carnival Time

It's Carnival here in Trinidad, that time of the year just before Lent when some people get it all out before they give it all up.

Carnival is this

as well as this 

But it can also be this

People come from all over the world to party through the streets for two days. The kids get Saturday and Sunday, while the adults have at on Monday and Tuesday.

Carnival actually has its history in the Catholic Church, hence the reason it occurs before Lent. Carne - Meat and Val(e)- Festival. Farewell to meat. It was a big celebration to consume all the rich foods and drink that was off limits throughout Lent. Trinidad's Carnival has it's roots in the slaves imitating and making fun of the masters during their celebration of Carnival.

The ingenuity and talent of the people have transformed the time from mere mimicry to the festival of colour and artistry it is today that has people flocking to the islands year after year from start to finish (although Carnival is technically that four day period before Ash Wednesday in actuality it runs much longer).

Old Mass on Friday you get a taste of the past and all those traditional characters like Pierrot Grenade, Midnight Robber and Minstrels.

Saturday and Sunday afternoon the kids take to the streets in their costumes. Some of the bigger bands have their own music trucks but there are speakers lining most streets playing soca music for the revelers in costume as well as the spectators. Thousands of people line the streets or chip along as the kids have their fun.

Steelpan which was invented in Trinidad has it's final competition on Saturday night when the best of the best to emerge from earlier competitions vie for the title of Panorama Champion. These bands have players as young as 5 with foreigners as well as locals. These foreigners are regulars who have been coming for years and are real pan lovers.

Carnival is many things to many people. A time to get away from it all. A time to be "free" and do what you want. A time to experience the beauty of our culture and the talent of our people.

To quote our Archbishop in his message for this "weekend" "It is possible to celebrate cultural events of which Carnival is one, have fun and still be faithful to what God asks of us." Carnival is part of the Trinidad and Tobago culture and it is full of beauty, talent, togetherness and history.