Discover St. Vincent and the Grenadines – Carnival

• By Michael Smart
• December 5, 2014
• 1 Comment

Carnival is a festive and colorful celebration of St. Vincent’s rich history, diverse heritage and culture, and its proud identity. Vincy Mas, as Carnival is known locally, is a showcase of Vincentian artistry in music, dance, folklore, costume design, and stage production. It is an annual national festival, a premiere cultural event celebrated over 12 days in homes, stadiums, and in the streets.

The origin of Carnival in the Caribbean, and on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has its roots during the French colonial possession of the islands. The French celebrated a prelenten festival called Carnival, which translated means “farewell to the flesh.” Carnival was the highlight of the year, celebrated by the privileged ruling class during four days of masked, or mas’ balls and dances preceding Ash Wednesday. After the British supplanted the French, the practice continued.

Of course, the indigenous Caribs on St. Vincent had their own festivals, to which escaped African slaves from other islands contributed their own cultural expressions. With the abolition of slavery, freed slaves embraced Carnival, continuing to add elements of their respective cultures. They took their celebration to the streets, in spectacular theatrical displays performed on the Monday and Tuesday before the Christian Ash Wednesday.

As the festival gained popularity and momentum, the colonial authorities instituted bans on the festivities. This led to riots on St. Vincent in February of 1879, and later the Comboule Riots on Trinidad.

Carnival as practiced today on St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a mixture of indigenous, African, and European traditions. It has evolved from the two day prelenten Catholic Christian celebration in February, to twelve days in July. The switch to July provided a longer lead time than was available between Christmas and February, to prepare the expanded Carnival activities. The time shift also allowed the Vincentian Carnival to escape the shadow of Trinidad’s Carnival, which had eclipsed St. Vincent’s in reputation and popularity, increasing the number of visitors to St. Vincent during the off season tourist lull. It also provided a more convenient time for the Vincentian diaspora abroad to visit home. The expansion to 12 days accommodated the growth of Carnival activities. Today these include competitions for the best musical band and costumed floats, a Calypso and Soca monarch, a Carnival King and Queen based on best individual costume, a Miss St. Vincent and the Grenadines beauty pageant, and a Miss Carnival beauty pageant with entrants from around the Caribbean. All culminating in Mardi Gras style street dances and parades by costumed bands.

The celebration is lively, festive, and colorful, enjoyed by participants and spectators alike. Carnival’s stage presentations, competitions, street parties and costumed parades, draw large, enthusiastic audiences and revelers.

The action in Deadlight, book #3 of the Bequia Mysteries, takes place in the days leading up to, and during Carnival. Experience the vibe, sights, and sounds of Carnival in the pages of Deadlight, and on the Bequia Mysteries website.

 
 
 
 
 

Click here to view more Carnival images on the Bequia Mysteries website.
See all Discover St. Vincent and the Grenadines Posts…

 
 

---

COMMENT and SUBSCRIBE. Thank you for visiting my blog. I enjoy hearing from my readers. Please leave a comment, sign up for my newsletter to receive news, updates, and blog posts directly to your email inbox, and share this with your friends on social media.