Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
History
Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago originally has its roots in the 19th century, from both West African festivals and French Catholic carnival celebrations, where masks were donned and social visits ensued. When the use of drums and religious practices were prohibited following Emancipation (1838), slaves (and then former slaves) found novel ways to pass on their cultural heritage.
Similar celebrations were held by the slaves at the end of crops harvesting, hence the Crop Over celebrations in some other Caribbean islands. In Trinidad, the festival was known as Canboulay (from Cannes Brulees, or burnt cane), and incorporated African derived dancing and music (the precursor to Calypso) to transform Carnival into what we see today.
However, after Emancipation, the festival time was merged with the French settlers’ and free coloureds’ celebration, the pre-Lenten festival tied to the Roman Catholic carne vale (farewell to the flesh), in preparation for fasting and religious disciplines of Lent. It is now celebrated two days before Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent.
Carnival Dates
The table shows a list of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival dates from 2009 to 2015.
Calendar Year
Carnival Monday
Carnival Tuesday
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
Competitions
Today musical competitions make up a large part of formal Carnival; groups and individuals compete hard to win. To be named Calypso Monarch is one of the island’s greatest honors, and the competition is aired on television. Along with the honor comes an enormous trophy, a car, TT $500,000 (approx. US $80,908.95) and possible endorsements and other contracts. Other prestigious titles are the King and Queen of the Bands (a competition of mammoth and elaborate costumes); the International Soca Monarch (both Groovy and Power); the Carnival Road March; and Panorama (for steelpan). For the latter, the 2007 prize was TT $1 million (US $161,817.91). There are also limbo, stickfighting, and other competitions.
Traditionally, musicians use drums, claves, and the steelpan, created in Trinidad and reported to be the only non-electrical instrument invented in the 20th century, that has been hammered down in different areas to create a wide range of different notes. A group of performers practice weeks in advance on these pans to compete.
Trinidad and Tobago is multicultural (African, Asian (south and east), Middle Eastern, European), and all of its groups have contributed musical influences to the sounds of Carnival. These cultures have combined to create a music vastly different from that of Carnival in Spain, Venice, or New Orleans.
Costumes
Large Kings and Queens costumes, like the one shown above, play a major part in Trinidad’s Carnival celebration
As with other Carnivals, many participants wear elaborate costumes, often decorated with feathers and sequins. Carnival “bands” are organized groups made up of participants who pay for costumes fashioned by a designer and assembled by teams of volunteers. The costumed participants dance through the streets to the sounds of a steel band, a soca band or a d.j. – this is called “playing mas'”. A unique feature of this parade is that locals and tourists alike participate in the parade of bands. Each band is led by a King and Queen, who wear extremely large costumes, often requiring extensions and wheels to assist the masquerader to carry it through the streets. Each year on Dimanche Gras (Carnival Sunday), a competition is held to award the King and Queen of Carnival title to two of these masqueraders.
On Carnival Monday and Tuesday, the bands are in competition to win the Band of the Year title. Small monetary prizes are associated with these titles, though they do not cover the full amount of producing the band’s music or the King’s or Queen’s costumes. Participation occurs at all levels of society; three-time calypso monarch David Rudder described it as “from bourgeois to grassroots.” Children participate from as early as parents can get them into costume; sometime even strollers are decorated.
Children can extend their fun by participating in smaller “Kiddies Carnival” shows, competitions and parades as early as 4 weeks before the culmination of the festival. For weeks ahead, several preliminary rounds of competitions and parties (or ftes) take place. As Carnival is part of the national curriculum, several programs take place at schools across the country. Regional authorities handle smaller carnival celebrations in smaller towns and villages.
Bands
Members of a Costume band parade on the streets of Port of Spain
Band leaders and designers begin working on their presentations months in advance of Carnival Monday and Tuesday. They usually hold a launch party the up to 8 months before Carnival to showcase their costumes. Costumes are available for purchase at the mas camp. Some camps offer costumes for sale online as well.
Some popular Carnival bands include:
Rosalind Gabriel
Tribe
Harts Carnival (also known as Young Harts)
Masquerade
Peter Minshall’s Callaloo Company
Island People
Trevor Wallace
Trini Revellers
Legacy
Genesis
Pulse 8
Spice
Dream Team
Mas Jumbies
Evolution
Brian McFarlane
Ramajay
Characters
Carnival, Port of Spain, early 1950s
A few specific characters have evolved during the history of Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival. Among these characters are:
Pierrot Grenade – he gives speeches on issues of the day, all in rhyme
Minstrels – black musicians acting as wandering minstrels, wearing white facepaint
Midnight Robber – his grandiose bragging is known as “robber talk,” a style which evolved from African Griot storytellers
Jab Jab – The name of this mas is derived from the French patois for ‘Diable Diable”. It is pretty devil mas. The costume consists of a Kandal or satin knickers, and satin shirt with points of cloth at the waist, from which bells hang. On the chest, there is a shaped cloth panel which is decorated with swansdown, rhinestones and mirrors. Stockings and alpagatas are worn on the feet, while the headress consists of a hood with stuffed cloth horns. The costume can come in alternating colours and be divided into front and back panels. The Jab Jab has a thick whip of plaited hemp which he swings and cracks threateningly. These whips can reduce the costumes of other Jab Jabs to threads.It is not to be confused with Jab Molassie.
JAB MOLASSIE Jab is the French patois for ‘Diable’ (Devil), and Molassie is the French patois for Mlasse (Molasses). The Jab Molassie is one of several varieties of devil mas played in Trinidad and Tobago carnival. The costume consists of short pants or pants cut off at the knee, and a mask and horns. The jab malassie would carry chains, and wear locks and keys around his waist, and carry a pitch fork. He may smear his body with grease, tar, mud or coloured dyes (red, green or blue). The jab molassie “wines” or gyrates to a rhythmic beat that is played on tins or pans by his imps. While some of his imps supply the music, others hold his chain, seemingly restraining him as he pulls against them in his wild dance.
The differences among the various forms of devil mas were once distinct, but have become blurred over time.
Dame Lorraine – an amply blessed woman — usually played by a man, stuffed in the appropriate areas — dressed as an 18th century French aristocrat
References
^ Trinidad Carnival Dates
See also
Carnival
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 the Open Directory Project
Find costumes for Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2010
National Carnival Bandleaders Association of Trinidad & Tobago
Unified Calypsonians Organisation of Trinidad & Tobago
Discover Trinidad & Tobago
Categories: Carnivals | Trinidad and Tobago culture
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