Each year, many events take place in the Caribbean islands as a part of a Caribbean Carnival. Anguilla, Anitgua, Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Grenada, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin, Trinidad and Tobago are just some of the many islands that celebrate Caribbean Carnival annually.
While the Caribbean Carnivals are not necessarily based on amusement rides, they’re all based on some theme celebrating folklore, culture and religion. Caribbean Carnivals all have three things in common; celebration of music, carnival costumes and competitions. Some of the music genres which are celebrated at Caribbean Carnival are Bouyon music, Brukdown, Cadence music, Calypso music, Junkanoo, Kaiso, Punta, Ringbang, Soca, Salsa, Spouge, Steelpan, Tuk and Tumba. All musics are so rhythmical and enjoyable and some are combinations of several musical traditions. For example, Soca music is said to be a combination of Calypso music with soul music with Indian rhythms. Some of the characters that are celebrated through beautiful and intricate costuming are Burrokeets, Cow Bands, Dame Lorraine, Fancy Indians, Jab Jan and Jab Molassie, Midnight Robber, Moko Jumbies, and Pierrot Grenade.
Carribbean Carnival
Everyone has their favorite aspect of the Caribbean Carnival whether it is the celebration of the art of music, or the celebration of disguise through the carnival costumes and characters; many children’s favorites are the competitions. The competitions involved in most of the Caribbean Carnivals include the Calypso Monarch, Chutney Soca Monarch, Soca Monarch, Panorama, Roadmarch, Band of the Year, Queen of the Bands, King of the Bands, and Junior Carnival. The Junior Carnival is the much anticipated carnival for the kids and remains very popular.
A Caribbean Carnival tradition is “Playing Mas” which is Masquerade, Calypso music and crowning a Calypso King or Monarch. Playing Mas is based on a number of disciplines.
If you intend to travel to one of the Caribbean islands to take in the experience of the Caribbean Carnival celebration, you will need to research a bit as different islands have Caribbean Carnival at different times throughout the year. For example, Anguilla celebrates the Caribbean Carnival the first week in August, as do Antigua and Barbuda; whereas Aruba celebrates Caribbean Carnival the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which is a holiday celebrated by Catholics as well. Belize celebrates Caribbean Carnival the closest Saturday to September 10th each year and, in the British Virgin Islands the Caribbean Carnival can be celebrated anytime between Old Year’s Night (New Year’s Eve to New Year’s Morning) through the spring months and is celebrated at the end of May on the island of Tortola.
The three islands of Cuba; Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Varadero, all celebrate Caribbean Carnival in July. The majority of islands celebrate Caribbean Carnival in conjunction with Ash Wednesday or Lent, however the Islands of the United States Virgin Islands; Saint Croix, Saint John and Saint Thomas, celebrate around Christmas, 4th of July, and the last weekend in April, respectively.
Any carnival celebration on all the Caribbean islands guarantees a great fun for the visitors.