The Real Reason Behind Caribbean Festival
If you live in the Caribbean, or if you’ve ever visited, the Carnival culture festival is an annual tradition that has become synonymous with this region. This festive event takes place before Lent every year and falls on Shrove Tuesday or Ash Wednesday. It isn’t just a party—it also contains folkloric elements reminding the people of their origins. There are many traditions involving masquerades, dances, music, songs that have only recently begun to be discussed outside the region while giving consideration to more modern aspects of Caribbean society. The history of the Caribbean Carnival must include the communities of the region as well. Examining this history should also lead to an understanding of how Carnival has changed over time to address changes in society.
EGYPT AND EUROPE
Historians believe Ancient Egyptians were the first to celebrate the Carnival culture festival as a pagan festival, which was eventually adopted by the Greeks and Romans. These earliest celebrations took place in nature revealing to the people the peace, freedom, and good spirits that were present. The Romans later adopted the festival but renamed it Saturnalia.
ROMAN INFLUENCE
The Romans brought the tradition of masquerades to Greece where they dedicated time during the festival to the god Saturn. The masquerade style of dress was worn by both men and women in order to conceal identities. They wore masks, false beards, wigs, and outfits with vibrant colors designed to provoke emotion in spectators. This often included sexual themes in an attempt to make people laugh.
Over time, this tradition mixed with pagan beliefs which later influenced Christianity when Christianity became the main religion of Europe. One interpretation of the biblical history led to Carnival’s association with Shrove Tuesday (Ash Wednesday). In some countries, the first part of the festival is referred to as Shrove Tuesday and the second as Carnival.
CARIBBEAN INFLUENCE
Like Europe, Caribbean communities came to associate Carnival with Ash Wednesday and Shrove Tuesday. They continued to evolve and adapt their traditions. It’s important to note that during this time in history, there were no saints or holy days associated with Carnival. The Lord’s Day was not celebrated by Catholics or Protestants but was instead a time for rest and reflection. This means that the people who adapted to this festival didn’t know of any holy day that would coincide with their activities. It wasn’t until 1139 that Christianity became the majority religion in Europe and Africans began to embrace their African roots. As a result of the Italian Famine, emigration flooded to Europe, and thousands of African slaves were sent to work there. These slaves brought their traditions with them including many aspects of Carnival.
FRENCH INFLUENCE
As Europeans began to travel throughout the Caribbean, they adapted many elements from their homelands including masquerades, masks, and costumes for Carnival celebrations. They adopted various dance moves that were originally from Africa. It was the French and the Dutch (who were more often than not at odds with one another) who brought this form of Carnival to Haiti and to the islands of Barbados, Cuba, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and the Bahamas.
GEORGIAN INFLUENCE
When the Portuguese began to explore the Caribbean festival in the late 1500s, they introduced many new elements including music that was similar to Greco-Roman music. This influenced African slaves who traveled with the Portuguese. These slaves brought with them their traditions including masquerades and various forms of musical entertainment before and during Carnival.
CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL FESTIVAL TODAY
While Carnival celebrations are widely popular in the Caribbean festival, there are many countries outside of the region that recognize the importance of the celebrations. These countries recognize that it might be important to learn about Carnival and its history. However, since there is no set date to celebrate Carnival, people end up organizing their own events to celebrate it. While there are many different attitudes toward Carnival across the world, many other cultures outside of the Caribbean culture recognize its significance by honoring one or more aspects of it.
GOOD OLD CARNIVAL
The old-school version of the Carnival tour involves a lot of partying and socializing. This version of Carnival is important because it reflects the very African roots of the celebration. This type of celebration involves much dancing and partying. It does not require people to dress up in specific ways. There are no costumes or masks, unlike the masquerade style that evolved. The music is often soca, calypso, steel pan, or merengue along with other genres such as instrumental versions of these genres. The men and women will often dress in casual clothing such as shorts, Bermuda shorts, and tank tops which makes it easy for people to participate.
Why is the Caribbean festival celebrated?
The Caribbean is a region consisting of the tropical islands in the Caribbean Sea and its islands. The region is a big part of the Americas and is usually known as the West Indies. The Caribbean consists of: The Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago. The official languages spoken are English or Spanish.
What can you expect from the festival?
Events included in the Caribbean festival are-
- Live Art Demonstrations & Exhibits- The festival will feature artworks from various artists to explore the world of art and culture.
- Live Music – The live music will feature an incredible lineup of local and international music acts. Such as Popcaan (Jamaica), Machel Montano (Trinidad and Tobago), 3rd world (Jamaica), and many more!
- Traditional Clothing – Traditional clothing is a part of the Caribbean identity which is incorporated into their everyday lives for special occasions like festivals, celebrations, weddings, and more! Some examples would be – The Trinidad & Tobago Flag Hat, Guyanese hat, Jamaican Rastafarian hat, Trilby hats from Barbados, etc.
- Soul Food – Soul food is a combination of various ingredients from the Caribbean islands. It includes sweet and savory tastes of Jamaica, spicy food from Trinidad and Tobago, or rich and creamy desserts from Barbados. Some examples would be – Jamaican Patties, Trinidadian Doubles, Channa pie from Trinidad & Tobago, Carrot cake from Jamaica, etc.
- Interactive activities for kids- The Caribbean festival will feature a wide range of interactive and fun activities!
- A Cultural Village- The festival will also feature a Caribbean village where you can experience various Caribbean cultures.
- A Caribbean market – To give you a hands-on experience, the festival will feature a marketplace where you can purchase various products from the different islands of the Caribbean region!
Also,
These are a few things that you can consider doing at a Caribbean festival. Caribbean Festival is a great opportunity for the Caribbean communities of Houston, Texas to come together. And celebrate their shared history, traditions, food, music, and culture at the carnival.
The festival will include a diverse international menu including Jamaican jerk chicken, Trinidadian Veggie Patties, Dominican Pasteles, and more! There will be a wide range of products available for purchase. Such as paintings by local artists or traditional Jamaican clothing! Vendors will also be present showcasing their wares with products ranging from jewelry to handcrafted recycled artwork. The Caribbean Festival of Arts and Culture will showcase the vibrant culture of the Caribbean through live music performances, live art demonstrations, dance performances, film screenings, exhibits, and much more! The festival will also feature an International Food Court showcasing delicious cuisine from various regions of the Caribbean carnival culture festival.
