The Carnival is a part of Greek culture. It is believed that the carnival tradition was followed by Greek people to honor Dionysus, the famous god of wine. There was carnival like atmosphere during the ancient Greek Dionysus spring festival. The ancient carnival celebrations were very luxurious. Those people were having fun with music, alcohol, food, and companionship. They celebrated awakening of the God Dionysus after the winter time. The word “Carnival” is derived from the Latin word “Carne Vale”, which means “Farewell to Flesh”. There was a Carnival held in Italy, which were wild costume festivals, held every year by certain catholic religious people. This festival was held before the first day of lent.
The Africans also had a carnival tradition where youths in the African villages used to roam around in the streets of the village wearing costumes and masks. They used to go around the village in circles, as they believed it would bring them good luck.
Carnival History
This kind of carnival was also held to heal problems and calm down angry relatives who were dead. The carnival masks used during the carnival was made from items such as beads, shells, bones, grasses, and fabric. The Africans put feather in their masks to highlight their ability to overcome problems, pain, illness, or heartbreaks.
These African carnival traditions were the main reason for the birth of carnivals in the Americas. During the carnival celebrations in the Americas there are a whole lot of exciting things such as large puppets, stilt dancers, stick fighters, and African drums. The colonies where immigrants from Europe had come, occupied, and brought along slaves with them, were the centers in which carnivals were started. Some of the countries in the Caribbean Islands where Carnivals are held are Jamaica, Cuba, Brazil, Panama, Canada, USA, Trinidad & Tobago, and Grenada.
The Trinidad Carnival is beautiful and exciting to watch. A carnival filled with many cultures and tastes, this shows how a festival or celebration can unite the world. Held for just 5 days every year, this carnival tradition unites all cultures of the Islands as they come together for the carnival. This carnival was first started back in 1785 with the immigration of French settlers and African slaves. The main celebrations of Trinidad Carnival started in 1838 when slavery was abolished on this Island as the African people started holding carnival celebrations on the street. This Island also hosts Kiddies carnival for little children to educate them about the history and culture of this Island. Some of the other most popular carnivals are Rio Samba Carnival in Brazil, Carribean Carnival and The Carnival of Venice. The common carnival traditions include magnificent carnival masks and costumes.