Michigan Vacation

Port of Spain, Trinidad - February 1, 2010 - It’s that time of the year again when thousands of revelers flock to the island of Trinidad for what is described, by many, as one of the most colorful and culturally diverse pre-Lenten celebrations in the world, Trinidad Carnival. With a mix of pulsating rhythms and jubilant participants, the festival is known for bringing people together from all walks of life for a celebration of culture, calypso and cuisine. Trinidad’s Carnival is not a typical parade.

You don’t stand along side the road and watch the masquerade bands go by - you join in, sing, dance and are completely part of the event. In 2010, Trinidad Carnival culminates on February 15 and 16.

Carnival was introduced to Trinidad by the French in 1783 in the form of elaborate masquerade balls thrown by plantation owners. Banned from the festivities, the African slaves would hold their own celebrations using rituals and folklore while imitating their masters’ behavior. Once slavery was abolished in 1838, the freed Africans took their Carnival celebration to the streets and, as each new immigrant population entered Trinidad, a new flavor was added to the festivities. Today, the diverse culture of both islands has influenced the music, food and traditions of the festival.

Many countries host their own Carnival celebration each year, but Trinidad & Tobago’s unique components, such as Panorama, Kings and Queens Costume Competition, Kiddies Carnival, J’Ouvert and Masquerade Band of the Year, make it stand out from the rest.

Kiddies Carnival
Saturday, February 13
Carnival Saturday belongs to the children. This is when the masqueraders of the future come out dressed in costumes. Thousands of excited children, from tiny tots to teenagers, take to the streets with their proud parents waving enthusiastically from the sidelines. Kids participate from as early as parents can get them into costume, sometimes even strollers are decorated. DJ music blasts from the street corners, the sun blazes down on a sea of bright colors as the nation’s youth leaps and dances.

Panorama
Saturday, February 13
Created in 1963, Panorama is the annual competition for national instrument - the steel pan. Preliminary contests are held throughout the country in the weeks leading up to Carnival. The finals are held on the Saturday night before Carnival officially begins and represents the ultimate test of pan beating. The best of the best compete in front of the crowd of spectators and judges. Each band performs one song for the allotted time of ten minutes. The bands are judged on a scale of 100 points: 40 for arrangement, 40 for general performance, 10 for tone and 10 for rhythm. Winners are awarded in the categories of best small, medium and large band.

Kings and Queens Costume Competition
Sunday, February 14
These costumes, weighing between 50 - 200 lbs, usually depict colorful dragons that breathe fire, butterflies that bounce and flutter or insects with glowing eyes and antennas. They are the leaders of each one of the masquerade bands and the costume competition for King and Queen is fierce. Designers spend months creating spectacular and stunning costumes that can reach up to 30 feet high and are usually attached to wheels, making mobility easier for the brave soul who will spend two days in it parading and dancing on the streets of Port of Spain. Upon presenting their works of art to judges, designers enhance their stage show presence and their chance of winning with special effects such as lasers, fog, light shows, fireworks and musical sound effects.

J’Ouvert
Monday, February 15
J’Ouvert, the official start of Carnival, takes place before dawn on Carnival Monday. Revelers dress in old clothes and cover themselves in oil, grease, paint, chocolate and/or mud and parade through the towns and villages of Trinidad to the sounds of soca and calypso until the sun comes up. Once J’Ouvert is over, it’s time to grab breakfast, catch a few hours of sleep before venturing back onto the streets of Port of Spain to join the masquerade bands as they continue the celebrations throughout the day and into the night.

Carnival Monday and Tuesday
Monday, February 15 and Tuesday, February 16
Mas (short for masquerade) bands consist of thousands of people ‘jumping up’ in the streets of Port of Spain. Band members wear glittery, colorful, scantily-clad costumes. Each band has its own historical, mythological or tropical concept with various sections of the band depicting aspects of the theme. Carnival Monday is just a “warm-up” for Carnival Tuesday and marching begins around midday after J’Ouvert morning. Participants view it as a dress rehearsal (headpieces and full costume are not required) for Carnival Tuesday, as well as a qualification for judging. Carnival Tuesday begins promptly at 8 a.m. and masqueraders are in full costume ready and waiting to strut their stuff and dance wildly in front of the judges. Bands are judged in three categories: small, medium and large band and winners are announced after all the bands have been judged. The grand champion is crowned Masquerade Band of the Year.

Trinidad & Tobago is located in the southeastern region of the Caribbean. With its careful approach to tourism, the dual-island nation offers a distinct blend of culture, eclectic cuisine and an assortment of eco-adventure activities. Trinidad, the ‘cultural capital of the Caribbean,’ is home to the world famous Carnival, the birthplace of the steel pan drum and was the host destination for the 2009 Fifth Summit of the Americas and the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Tobago, sister island to Trinidad, is the quintessential Caribbean island with secluded beaches, quaint villages, private villas and award-winning eco-attractions that include the Main Ridge Rainforest, the oldest protected reserve in the western hemisphere and the five-time consecutive award winner for World’s Leading Ecotourism Destination by the World Travel Awards from 2003 to 2007.

For more information on Trinidad & Tobago visit www.goTrinidadandTobago.com or www.visittobago.gov.tt or call 800-816-7541.