Carnival is the annual festivity that happens on most of the Caribbean islands at different times throughout the year. The magic of carnival attracts tourists from all over the world, subsequently it is known to have a great economic impact on much of the islands. The island of Trinidad has long been hailed the mecca for carnival. The National Library and Information System Authority [NALIS] (2009) claims that Carnival is the country’s most important celebration. Other smaller island including St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada and St Lucia have been picking up their momentum to make their events equally magical and attractive to foreign visitors.

The carnival has a complex history, deriving from a diverse set of traditions. Carnival has been dubbed by theorist as a celebration of freedom. Sociologist Schechner argued that it was because freedom is a liberty that is tenuous, hard-won and still felt threatened. Historically, freedom especially for black people has a complicated legal, political, sociological and psychological. Because of this freedom, unruly types of play take place during carnival that includes drunkenness and giddiness with the allowance to ‘let loose’. Mocking authority with a freedom from any constraints. It is a celebration on the public streets, where hundreds or thousands of people gather, dressed-up in colourful fancy costumes, with loud music playing while dancing in the middle of the streets. Some mark it as a day of ‘no behaviour’, implying that anything goes. A full day or days on some islands, full of joy and laughter, forgetting about any trials or tribulations and simply celebrate life.

Some theories suggests that carnival started in ancient Egypt as a pagan celebration. Typically celebrated at the end of the winter season to commemorate natural and cosmic cycles, celebrating the spring season, and spiritual transition from darkness to light, from winter to summer.

Carnival has often been compared to that of Bakhtin, suggesting that its origins come from the European medieval carnival. Which is understood to have been initiated also as a celebration of freedom. Medieval power in the Middle Ages was less totalitarian than the power that operated on the slave plantation. But another theory is that carnival offers an opportunity of renewal. Nothing related to oppression or political motives but more about simply celebrating life.

• Carnaval de San Pedro – Belize – Feb/March
• Carnival De Ponce – Puerto Rico – Feb/March
• Carnival of Santiago de Cuba – July
• Emancipation Festival – Tortola, British Virgin Island – August
• Guyana Mashramani – Guyana – February
• Martinique Carnival – Martinique – Feb/March
• Miami Carnival – USA – March
• Nevis Culturama – August
• Nottinghill Carnival – London, UK  – August
• Rio De Janeiro Carnival – Brazil – Feb/March
• Saint Kitts Carnival – Caribbean – December
• Saint Lucia Carnival – July
• Trinidad & Tobago Carnival- Port of Spain, Trinidad –  Feb/March

Mardi Gras is a religious holiday celebrated around the world, it is a Christian cultural feast. The name ‘Mardi Gras’ is French for ‘Fat Tuesday’ originating from France. Mardi Gras is technically only one day and is officially celebrated on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday which is the day on the catholic calendar begins the season of fasting, repentance and spiritual discipline, leading up to Easter, known as Lent. In recent times Mardi Gras is celebrated over weeks as a festival, usually starting with celebrations in mid-February. It is a celebration that involves eating and drinking to be merry after rigorous fasting and sacrifice during Lent. It involves parades of people dressed in costumes, musical performances and food stalls. Although Mardi Gras resembles that of the Caribbean carnival, its origins and historical meaning are very different.

1. https://www.cariviews.com/blog/carnival-carnival-calendar-2022

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