Trinidad and Tobago Carnival explained

Holiday Name:Carnival
Type:cultural
Observedby:Trinidad and Tobago
Longtype:Cultural
Significance:Week before Lent
Date:Monday and Tuesday before Lent
Date2019:March 4 & 5
Date2020:February 24 & 25
Celebrations:processions, music, dancing, and the use of masquerade
Relatedto:Caribbean Carnival, Mardi Gras, Carnival, Shrove Monday, Ash Wednesday, Lent
Duration:14 days
Frequency:Annual

The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is an annual event held on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday in Trinidad and Tobago.[1] 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.[2] [3] [4] Traditionally, the festival is associated with calypso music, developed by enslaved West and Central Africans in 17th century Trinidad;[5] [6] however, Soca music has begun to replace calypso as the more popular musical genre for Carnival. Costume (sometimes called "mas"), stick-fighting, limbo, and steelpan competitions are important components of the festival.[7] [8] [9]

Carnival, as it is celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago, has spread to many other Caribbean islands as well as several cities worldwide. These celebrations include Toronto's Caribana, Miami's Miami Carnival, Houston Carifest, London's Notting Hill Carnival, as well as New York City's Labor Day Carnival.

Origin

The annual Carnival in Trinidad dates back to the 1780s, when an influx of immigrants from the French West Indies emigrated to Trinidad in response to the Cédula de Población.[10] [11] [12] These immigrants included French planters and 'free coloureds' (free people of mixed race),[13] [14] as well as enslaved Africans. The Mas tradition started in the late 18th century with French plantation owners organizing masquerades (mas) and balls before enduring the fasting of Lent. Enslaved Africans, who could not take part in Carnival. They are said to have staged their own mini-carnivals, but using their own rituals and folklore and imitating or mocking their masters' masquerade balls.[15] [16]

Enslaved Africans also formed parallel celebration called "Canboulay". Canboulay (from the French cannes brulés, meaning burnt cane)[17] The festival was characterized by drums, singing, calinda dancing, chanting, and stick-fighting.[18] [19] [20] Canboulay is considered 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 Kaiso and canboulay music brought by African slaves imported to that Caribbean island to work on sugar plantations. These slaves, brought to toil on sugar plantations, were stripped of all connections to their homeland and family and not allowed to talk to each other. They used calypso to mock the slave masters and to communicate with each other. Many early calypsos were sung in French Creole by an individual called a griot. As calypso developed, the role of the griot became known as a chantuelle and eventually, calypsonian.[21] Additional traditions were introduced to Trinidad by enslaved Africans during the 18th century. These include the calinda, a form of martial art involving stick-fighting.[22] The calinda is likely of African origin, and is accompanied by music and dancing.[23]

In 1833, the British government passed the Slavery Abolition Act, and Emancipation took effect August 1, 1834.[24] [25] After Emancipation, freed Africans first celebrated their freedom on 1 August the anniversary of their emancipation, and soon began celebrating emancipation during the Carnival season. As part of this transformation, they started carrying burning sugarcane in celebration of Canboulay. The carnival soon featured dancing by men and women in masks.

During the mid- and late-1800s, the colonial government tried various ways to suppress Carnival and Carnival festivities.[26] These prohibitions resulted in civil disorder, including the Canboulay riots of 1881 and 1884.[27] [28] [29] In 1884, the colonial government passed the Peace Preservation Act,[30] in an attempt to prevent violence breaking out during the Carnival. The Act prohibited public carrying of torches, drumming, blowing horns, and stick-fighting (or the assembly of ten or more people with sticks). It also established the official start of Carnival as 6:00 A.M. (the Monday before Lent).[31] [32]

Steelpan

Stick fighting and African percussion music were banned in 1881, in response to the Canboulay Riots. They were replaced by bamboo "Bamboo-Tamboo" sticks beaten together, which were themselves banned in turn. In 1937 they reappeared, transformed as an orchestra of frying pans, dustbin lids and oil drums. These steelpans (or pans) are now a major part of the Trinidadian music scene and are a popular section of the Canboulay music contests. In 1941, the United States Navy arrived on Trinidad, and the panmen, who were associated with lawlessness and violence, helped to popularize steel pan music among soldiers, which began its international popularization.

J'ouvert

See main article: J'ouvert.

J'ouvert (translated from French as "break of day") symbolizes the start of the official two days of Carnival.[33] Beginning early Monday, revelers parade through town in the tradition of the Canboulay celebrations.[34] [35] "Jouvay" (as it is commonly pronounced and spelled) features a variety of homemade or satirical costumes.[36] [37] [38] The celebration involves participants dousing themselves in oil, mud, and powder,[39] [40] [41] and dancing to calypso and soca music through the streets.[42] [43] 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.[44]

Carnival dates

The table shows a list of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival dates from 2009 to 2026.[45] [46]

Calendar YearCarnival Monday Carnival Tuesday
2009February 23February 24
2010February 15February 16
2011March 7March 8
2012February 20February 21
2013February 11February 12
2014March 3March 4
2015February 16February 17
2016February 8February 9
2017February 27February 28
2018February 12February 13
2019March 4March 5
2020February 24February 25
2021Cancelled due to COVID-19[47]
2022Cancelled due to COVID-19
2023February 20February 21
2024February 12February 13
2025March 3March 4
2026February 16February 17

Characters

See main article: List of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival character costumes.

A few specific characters have evolved during the history of Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival. Among these characters are:

References

  1. Book: Green, Garth L. . Trinidad Carnival: The Cultural Politics of a Transnational Festival . Scher . Philip W. . 2007-03-28 . Indiana University Press . 978-0-253-11672-7 . en.
  2. Web site: Doughty . Melissa . 2023-06-21 . Band launches on the way . 2024-06-14 . Trinidad and Tobago Newsday . en-US.
  3. Web site: YUMA kicks off band launch season for Carnival 2024 Loop Trinidad & Tobago . 2024-06-14 . Loop News . en.
  4. Web site: Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Trinidad Travel & Tourism . 2024-06-14 . Visit Trinidad . Tourism Trinidad . en-US.
  5. Web site: The subversive power of calypso music . 2024-06-14 . . en-GB.
  6. Book: Espinet, Charles S. . Land of the Calypso: The Origin and Development of Trinidad's Folk Song . Pitts . Harry . 1944 . Guardian Commercial Printery . en.
  7. Web site: Traditional Carnival Characters. TNTIsland.com. 2019-11-19.
  8. Web site: Traditional Mas Characters - Calinda or Kalenda (Stick Fighting) . 2024-06-14 . National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago.
  9. Web site: Guide . Forbes Travel . Three Hot Carnival Celebrations To Hit In February (Besides Rio's) . 2024-06-14 . Forbes . en.
  10. Book: Chaitram, Samantha S. S. . American Foreign Policy in the English-speaking Caribbean: From the Eighteenth to the Twenty-first Century . 2020-06-01 . Springer Nature . 978-3-030-45986-4 . en.
  11. Book: Brereton, Bridget . Race Relations in Colonial Trinidad 1870-1900 . 2002-06-06 . Cambridge University Press . 978-0-521-52313-4 . en.
  12. Book: Sherwood, Marika . Origins of Pan-Africanism: Henry Sylvester Williams, Africa, and the African Diaspora . 2012-07-26 . Routledge . 978-1-136-89113-7 . en.
  13. Web site: 15 December 2014 . "Mama Dis is Mas" . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170211235544/https://www.nalis.gov.tt/Resources/Subject-Guide/Carnival . 11 February 2017 . 1 September 2019 . National Library and Information System Authority.
  14. Book: Allahar, Anton . Diasporic Identity: Myth, Culture, and the Politics of Home: A Special Issue of identity . 2002-03-01 . Psychology Press . 978-1-135-58781-9 . en.
  15. Alleyne-Dettmers . Patricia Tamara . 1995 . Political Dramas in the Jour Ouvert Parade in Trinidad Carnaval . Caribbean Studies . 28 . 2 . 326–338 . 0008-6533 . 25613310.
  16. Web site: 2021-02-15 . Jouvert: Carnival high times, from Trinidad to the diaspora . 2024-05-25 . PAM - Pan African Music . en-US.
  17. La Rose . Michael . 2019 . "The City Could Burn Down, We Jammin' Still!": The History and Tradition of Cultural Resistance in the Art, Music, Masquerade and Politics of the Caribbean Carnival: Caribbean Quarterly . Caribbean Quarterly . 65 . 4 . 491–512 . 10.1080/00086495.2019.1682348.
  18. Book: Cowley, John . Carnival, Canboulay and Calypso: Traditions in the Making . 1998 . Cambridge University Press . 978-0-521-65389-3 . en.
  19. Web site: October 2022 . J'ouvert: Genesis Immersive Experience (booklet) . City Lore.
  20. Book: Riggio, Milla Cozart . Carnival: Culture in Action – The Trinidad Experience . 2004-10-14 . Routledge . 978-1-134-48780-6 . en.
  21. Book: French creole influence on calypso music. YouTube . March 6, 2014. 9780313357978. 2010-12-17.
  22. Book: Winer, Lise . Dictionary of the English/Creole of Trinidad & Tobago: On Historical Principles . 2009-01-16 . McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP . 978-0-7735-7607-0 . en.
  23. Book: Hogan, Patrick Colm . Colonialism and Cultural Identity: Crises of Tradition in the Anglophone Literatures of India, Africa, and the Caribbean . 2000-01-27 . SUNY Press . 978-0-7914-4460-3 . en.
  24. Web site: The West Indian colonies and emancipation . UK Parliament.
  25. Web site: Hamilton-Davis . Ryan . 2024-04-19 . Trinidad and Tobago to celebrate African Emancipation Day on August 1 . 2024-05-25 . Trinidad and Tobago Newsday . en-US.
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  27. La Rose . Michael . 2019 . "The City Could Burn Down, We Jammin' Still!": The History and Tradition of Cultural Resistance in the Art, Music, Masquerade and Politics of the Caribbean Carnival: Caribbean Quarterly . Caribbean Quarterly . 65 . 4 . 491–512 . 10.1080/00086495.2019.1682348.
  28. Web site: Canboulay Riots to head to San Fernando . 2024-05-29 . National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago.
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  30. Web site: Jan 30, 1884 . Submits Ordinance No. 1 of 1884: Peace Preservation. To empower the Governor to prohibit the public carrying of lighted torches at the Carnival, and for the preservation of the peace. Proclamation approved. . UK National Archives.
  31. Web site: Immigration and the Political Economy of Home . 2024-05-25 . publishing.cdlib.org.
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  37. Web site: 2023-01-20 . Trinidad and Tobago Carnival: A vibrant celebration of culture and tradition . 2024-05-24 . Our History . en-GB.
  38. Web site: 2013-12-27 . Sugar Mas 42 J'ouvert Attracts Thousands By by LK Hewlett . 2024-05-27 . The St Kitts Nevis Observer . en-US.
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  44. Web site: Sheriff . Nai-Whedai . 2014 . J'ouvert Speaks to the Present . 1 September 2019 . Journal of Emerging Dance Scholarship . World Dance Alliance.
  45. Web site: Trinidad Carnival Dates (2009-2015) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080915184320/http://www.tntisland.com/dates.html . 2008-09-15 .
  46. Web site: Carnival Dates to Year 2026 (2014-2026) . 2024-06-13 . National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago.
  47. Web site: [Updated] Covid19 Kills Carnival. 28 September 2020.
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  52. Web site: Traditional Mas Characters - Dame Lorraine . 2024-06-15 . National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago.
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  56. Web site: 18 August 2011 . A Carnival Theme Rooted in our Traditions by Dr. Nicole Phillip . 1 September 2019 . GroundationGrenada.com.
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  58. Web site: Midnight Robber Carnival Character . 2024-06-15 . Traditional Mas Archive . en-US.
  59. News: Carnival Characters . 2017-04-21 . Trinidad Carnival Diary . en-US.
  60. Web site: Traditional Mas Characters - Midnight Robber . 2024-06-15 . National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago.
  61. Web site: Traditional Mas Characters - Minstrels . 2024-06-15 . www.ncctt.org.
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  63. Web site: Hamilton-Davis . Ryan . 2022-02-21 . Masqueraders keep old-time mas alive in traditional and conventional competition . 2024-06-15 . Trinidad and Tobago Newsday . en-US.
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  65. Web site: Traditional Mas Characters - Pierrot Grenade . 2024-06-15 . National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago.
  66. Web site: Kerrigan . Dylan . 2005-01-01 . Creatures of the mas . 2024-06-15 . Caribbean Beat Magazine . en-GB.

External links

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