Carnivals

Carnivals

Carnival may be described as an annual celebration of life, for while Brazil and the Caribbean have the largest and most famous of modern day carnivals, this all embracing festival is now celebrated in the streets of Germany, England and America. With its origins in various pagan spring festivals carnival today is a continuation of humanities need for communal celebration. It is a testament to the fluid organic nature of the event that where ever it is held the spirit of carnival will absorb and re-interperate the cultures and traditions that are to hand.

Caribbean Carnival

Carnival in the Caribbean began as a satire by plantation slaves mimicking their owner's masked balls and dances, while mixing this satire with their own cultural traditions. With the abolition of slavery in 1938 these celebrations took to the streets and became a powerful expression of freedom and individual expression. Today the best known carnival is that of Trinidad and Tobago which begins on Monday morning, two days before Ash Wednesday. The festivities are kicked off with a J'Ouvert or "Dirty Mas", where revelers are covered in mud, grease and frightening costumes. This is followed by "pretty mas", tens of thousands then parade the streets and the steel bands, brass bands, DJ's and sound systems take to the streets for a all day and night party.

 

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