List of Caribbean carnivals around the world explained

Caribbean Carnival[1] is the cultural celebration held annually throughout the year in many Caribbean islands and worldwide. It's a highly anticipated event in the Caribbean where locals and visitors come together to dance, savor cultural music, and indulge in delicious foods.[2]

It stems from a pagan holiday, later adopted by the Roman Catholic Church as Carne Vale. European slave traders brought it to the Caribbean, excluding African slaves and hosting lavish masquerade balls. After emancipation, freed African slaves transformed the festival into a celebration of freedom, blending African heritage and Caribbean Creole culture.[3]

In 1834, the Caribbean festival took root in Trinidad and Tobago, when French settlers brought the Fat Tuesday masquerade tradition to the island. It soon became a vibrant celebration, blending Creole Canboulay festivities with the European masquerade, eventually evolving into the modern Caribbean Carnival. At its start, formerly enslaved individuals expressed their freedom through music, clothing, and dance, leading to the dynamic fusion of African influences and Creole culture.[4] [5]

Carnival traditions differ across islands, typically consisting of activities like playing Mas (masquerade), the selection of a King and Queen, and reveling in diverse Caribbean music styles like calypso, jam-band, steelpan, and soca. Pre-carnival festivities such as J'ouvert feature cultural characters such as the Moko Jumbie and Dame Lorraine, adding to the vibrant celebrations.[6]

Although there are similar celebrations, not every Caribbean Carnival adopts the name "Carnival". For instance, in the Bahamas, Junkanoo commemorates the emancipations of slavery since 1884 through lively parades. Barbados hosts the Crop Over Festival, dating back to the 17th century, honoring successful sugar cane harvests at the end of July.[7]

Local Caribbean carnivals

Approximate dates are given for the concluding festivities. Carnival season may last for more than a month prior to the concluding festivities, and the exact dates vary from year to year.

International Caribbean carnivals

Canada

A unique attraction distinguishing this Caribbean event is its location. This dynamic, exciting event features some of the best Canadian and international Caribbean performers in music, dance, costumes, and world drumming. Events are held from Friday to Sunday throughout every third weekend of August. The Grand Parade in Toronto is held on the first Saturday of August to commemorate the abolition of the slave trade on August 1, 1838.

France

Germany

The Netherlands

United Kingdom

United States

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WIADRA westindian carnival organisation. 17 June 2016.
  2. Web site: List of Carnival and the world. 17 June 2016.
  3. Web site: 2023-05-06 . History of the Caribbean Carnival – By Michael La Rose – Charleston Caribbean . 2024-04-30 . en-US.
  4. Web site: History of Caribbean Carnival . 2024-04-30 . www.cariviews.com.
  5. Web site: Magazine . Smithsonian . Djinis . Elizabeth . A Brief History of How Carnival Is Celebrated Around the World . 2024-04-30 . Smithsonian Magazine . en.
  6. Web site: Ghayati . Mehdia . 2024-02-26 . Caribbean Carnival: History and Culture Magazine PONANT . 2024-04-30 . Magazine de voyage Escales : interviews, inspirations et conseils Magazine PONANT . en-GB.
  7. Web site: Barbados Festivals: Crop Over! . 2024-04-30 . barbados.org.
  8. http://anguillasummerfestival.com/ Anguilla Summer Festival
  9. https://www.facebook.com/ANUCarnival Antigua Carnival Facebook page
  10. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Barbuda-Caribana/172724539442202 Barbuda Caribana Facebook page
  11. http://www.visitaruba.com/things-to-do/carnival/ Visit Aruba: Aruba Carnival
  12. http://www.barbados.org/cropclnd.htm Barbados Crop Over Calendar
  13. Web site: Bahamas Events – Fishing Tournaments and Annual Festivals.
  14. http://www.belizecarnival.com/ Belize Carnival
  15. http://www.tourismbonaire.com/en/activities-events/cultural/celebrations/carnival-on-bonaire Tourism Bonaire: Carnival on Bonaire
  16. Web site: BVI August Festival . https://web.archive.org/web/20151228061745/http://www.vicarnivalschedule.com/tortola-2/ . 2015-12-28 . Bareboats BVI .
  17. http://www.bvitourism.com/event/virgin-gorda-easter-festival-celebrations BVI Tourism: Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Celebrations
  18. http://www.caymancarnival.com/ Cayman Carnival Batabano
  19. https://www.caymas.ky/
  20. http://www.cubagrouptour.com/information/cuba/events/carnival/ Cuban Adventures: Carnival in Santiago de Cuba
  21. http://www.cubaabsolutely.com/Vintage/article_tropicana.php?id=The-Havana-Carnival-1573-to-2012 Cuba Absolutely: The Havana Carnival
  22. http://www.curacaocarnival.info/eng/carnival_schedule.php Curaçao Carnival Info: Schedule
  23. http://www.dominica.dm/index.php/events-calendar?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=12&sobi2Id=80 Dominica Carnival
  24. http://www.colonialzone-dr.com/traditions-carnival.html Dominican Republic Carnival / Carnaval
  25. http://www.partygrenada.com/carriacoucarnival/2012.htm Party Grenada: Carriacou Carnival
  26. http://www.spicemasgrenada.com/ Spicemas
  27. http://www.maguadeloupe.ca/en/culture-2/carnaval-2013-2/ Guadeloupe Islands Tourist Board: Carnaval
  28. http://gina.gov.gy/wp/?p=8030 Guyana Government Information Agency: Mashramani
  29. https://www.guyanacarnival592.com/ Guyana Carnival
  30. http://www.haititravels.org/festivals/haiti-carnival-welcomes-everybody-to-sing-dance-and-enjoy.html Haiti Travels: Carnival
  31. Web site: Bacchanal Jamaica . 2013-05-26 . 2001-03-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010308210021/http://www.bacchanaljamaica.com/ . dead .
  32. Web site: 2023-05-16 . Carnival in Jamaica – Everything to know as a visitor . 2023-07-16 . en-US.
  33. Web site: Events – Gen XS Jamaica . 2023-07-16 . genxsjamaica.com.
  34. http://www.martinique.org/carnival-festivities/ Martinique Carnival
  35. http://www.visitmontserrat.com/Our_Carnival Montserrat Tourist Board: Our Carnival
  36. http://amhistory.si.edu/ourstory/activities/puerto/ Smithsonian: A Puerto Rican Carnival
  37. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Saba-Carnival/129225417151877 Saba Carnival Facebook page
  38. http://hello-stbarth.com/#/st-barts/carnival/pid/89 Hello St-Barts Carnival
  39. Web site: Lucian Carnival Events . 2013-05-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130517094619/http://www.luciancarnival.com/upcoming-events . 2013-05-17 .
  40. http://www.stkittsneviscarnival.com/ St. Kitts Nevis National Carnival
  41. Web site: Nevis Culturama . 2013-05-26 . 2010-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100108091555/http://www.nevisculturama.net/ .
  42. http://www.stmartinisland.org/even-more-st-martin-island/st-martin-focus-of-the-month/93-specials/437-saint-martin-carnival-committee.html Saint-Martin Carnival Committee
  43. http://www.carnivalsvg.com/ St Vincent and the Grenadines Carnival
  44. http://www.statiatourism.com/carnival.htm St Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation: Carnival
  45. https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Maarten-Carnival/143304965719399 St. Maarten Carnival Facebook page
  46. http://www.ncctt.org/home/events/carnival-dates.html National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Dates
  47. https://www.welcometobago.com/
  48. http://www.stxfestival.com/ St Croix Festival
  49. http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/carnival/ VInow: Virgin Islands Carnival Celebrations
  50. https://www.facebook.com/VICarnival VI Carnival Facebook page
  51. http://www.caribfest.ca/ Welcome to the Barrie Caribbean Festival
  52. http://www.guadeloupe-guide.net/guadeloupe-evenements-us.php Guadeloupe-guide: Events in Guadeloupe
  53. http://www.karneval-berlin.de/ Karneval der Kulturen
  54. http://www.zomercarnaval.nl/ Summer Carnival
  55. http://www.atlantacarnival.org/ Atlanta Carnival
  56. Web site: BCA Carnival . 2020-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180421200030/http://bcacarnival.net/ . 2018-04-21 .
  57. http://www.miamibrowardcarnival.com/ MIAMI BROWARD ONE CARNIVAL 2012
  58. http://www.madisoncarnaval.com/ Madison Carnival
  59. http://www.bayoubacchanal.org/ Bayou Bacchanal
  60. http://www.nolacaribbeanfestival.com/ NOLA CaribbeanFestival
  61. http://www.neworleanscaribbeancarnival.com/ New Orleans Caribbean Carnival
  62. Web site: HOME caribmask.
  63. http://www.carnavalsanfrancisco.org/parade.html Carnaval San Francisco Parade
  64. http://www.virginiacaribfest.com/ Virginia Caribfest
  65. Web site: DC Caribbean Festival . 2010-02-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180324081521/http://dccaribbeancarnival.org/ . 2018-03-24 .
  66. https://www.worcestercarib.com/ Worcester Caribbean American Carnival