Carnival Time in Trinidad and Tobago!
The islands truly come to life during Carnival-a once a year festival that is the last hurrah before the spare season of Lent. This year it falls on Feb. 7 and 8. While Lent is a time of fasting, repentance and reflection, Carnival is the total opposite.
In Latin, Carne Vale or “farewell to the flesh” used to literally be when the extremes of human behavior were put on the display in the streets. And though the festival is celebrated from New Orleans to Rio and many places in between, Trinidad and Tobago is one of the most popular spots for returning locals and throngs of tourists to celebrate.
As an unofficial public holiday, you’ll find the streets filled with people celebrating in wild, flamboyant costumes-mostly the younger generations and almost no families.
Back in the early days, Carnival came to the islands around the 1780’s by way of French settlers. According to the official tourism website of Trinidad and Tobago (www.visittnt.com), some of the traditional Carnival characters like Dame Lorraine, Jab Jab (a devil-like creation that would threaten you jovially with horns and three-pronged fork), Pierrot Grenade (like a Greek chorus, commenting on topical issues in rhyme) and Midnight Robber came about in the old days. But even today, they are still popular portrayals. It was a wild festival of the common people that the upper classes kept a safe distance from.
So what will a visitor to Trinidad and Tobago find when they join Carnival this year?
J’ouvert, (from the French Jour Ouvert which literally means “Open Day”), kicks things off with a bang. But make sure you get some rest before the real party begins, because it will be two days of non-stop fun.
There is always a soundtrack to go along with the vibrant season of Carnival. The wide variety of music will invite you to dance in the streets- there’s everything from traditional calypso to soca to “ex-tempo” (music made up on the spur of the moment).
As for actually participating in the street festivities or “playing mas”, you can book a costume in any one of a number of bands. There are the pared-down bands like Burrokeets where the objective is to have fun, not look pretty. The “party” bands like Young Harts, Poison, Barbarossa and Legends attract both the fun-lovers and the hard bodies. There are also “play yuh mas” bands that focus on the art of costume-making, such as Kallicharan’s and Wayne Berekley, and bands like Minshall and his Calalloo Company.
Carnival is a time when theatrics, fun and the vibrant energy of the people of Trinidad and Tobago combine to make a unique experience. And best of all, there is still time to book your ticket for one of the most entertaining shows on earth!
Travel Tips:
�Passport must be valid for 3 months longer than you intend to stay in the country
�You must have tickets and documents for return or onward travel
�No Visa is required for US Citizens or European Union residents to stay up to 3 months
General Safety Tips:
�Always lock your doors, whether you are in your hotel room, in a car or taxi.
�Never leave your valuables unattended, especially in cars or on beaches- or flaunt them in such a way as to make yourself an easy target.
�Do not travel alone at night, especially along poorly lit areas, deserted beaches or scenic lookouts.
�If you are in doubt about an area in which you are staying or traveling, ask- get advice from the hotel staff or call your embassy.
�When traveling, especially from the airport to your destination, use an accredited taxi. You can ask for details on accreditation at the information booth at the airport.
âÂ?¢Trust your instincts- if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
