Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
Carnival | |
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, Lent |
The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is an annual event held on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday in Trinidad and Tobago. This event is well known for participants' colorful costumes and exuberant celebrations. There are numerous cultural events such as "band launch fetes" running in the lead up to the street parade on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. It is said that if the islanders are not celebrating it, then they are preparing for it, while reminiscing about the past year's festival. Traditionally, the festival is associated with calypso music, with its origins formulated in the midst of hardship for enslaved West and Central Africans; however, recently Soca music has replaced calypso as the most celebrated type of music. Costumes (sometimes called "mas"), stick-fighting and limbo competitions are also important components of the festival.[1]
Origin
The Mas tradition started in the late 18th century with French plantation owners organizing masquerades (mas) and balls before enduring the fasting of Lent. The slaves, who could not take part in Carnival, formed their own, parallel celebration called "Canboulay". Canboulay (from the French cannes brulés, meaning burnt cane) is a precursor to Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, and has played an important role in the development of the music of Trinidad and Tobago.
Calypso music was developed in Trinidad in the 17th century from the West African
Steelpan
J'Ouvert
J'ouvert (translated from French as "break of day"), symbolizes the start of the official two days of Carnival. Beginning early Monday, revellers parade through town in the tradition of the Canboulay celebrations. Jouvay, as it is commonly known, features a variety of homemade or satirical costumes. This celebration involves participants dousing themselves in oil, mud and powder while they dance to calypso music through the streets. This is a stark contrast to the attractive and more formal costumes that are donned later in the day on Carnival Monday and on Tuesday.
Carnival dates
The table shows a list of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival dates from 2009 to 2026.[3]
Calendar Year | Carnival Monday | Carnival Tuesday |
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2009 | February 23 | February 24 |
2010 | February 15 | February 16 |
2011 | March 7 | March 8 |
2012 | February 20 | February 21 |
2013 | February 11 | February 12 |
2014 | March 3 | March 4 |
2015 | February 16 | February 17 |
2016 | February 8 | February 9 |
2017 | February 27 | February 28 |
2018 | February 12 | February 13 |
2019 | March 4 | March 5 |
2020 | February 24 | February 25 |
2021 | Cancelled due to COVID-19[4] | |
2022 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 | |
2023 | February 20 | February 21 |
2024 | February 12 | February 13 |
2025 | March 3 | March 4 |
2026 | February 16 | February 17 |
Characters
A few specific characters have evolved during the history of Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival.[1] Among these characters are:
- Burrokeet – A "donkey-man" character constructed so as to give the illusion of a dancer riding a small burro or donkey. This masquerade was brought to Trinidad by Venezuelan settlers.
- Dame Lorraine – An ample voluptuous woman. The costume parodies the dress of 18th-century French aristocratic women and is stuffed in the hips and bust.
- Jab Jab – The name comes from the French Patoisword for devil.
- Midnight Robber – A character who brags about himself and whose costume is influenced by West African dress.
- Minstrels – A group of singers
- Moko jumbie - A stilt dancer. The character is of African origin. Originally the character wore a hat made of dried wild cucumbers, and the stilts were striped.[5]
- Pierrot – A well-dressed character that prides himself on his knowledge
References
- ^ a b "Traditional Carnival Characters". TNTIsland.com. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
- ISBN 9780313357978. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
- ^ "Trinidad Carnival Dates". Archived from the original on 2015-10-18. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
- ^ "[Updated] Covid19 Kills Carnival". 28 September 2020.
- ISBN 978-976-8194-060.
External links
- Official Trinidad and Tobago Tourism Site – www.gotrinidadandtobago.com
- Calendar of Events at the Trinidad Tourism Site
- National Carnival Commission Official Website
- History and Carnival Information at the National Library
- Trinidad and Tobago Carnival at Curlie
- The Birth & Evolution of Trinidad Carnival