Explosion of colour, creativity and culture during Trinidad Carnival 2004

Thursday, February 19, 2004

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Due to its pulsating music, thousands of participants, astounding costumes and creative blend of multiple cultures, Trinidad's Carnival has become world famous. The evolution of Trinidad's Carnival from a French masquerade ball to a rollicking street festival started before Trinidad was even colonized. 

Trinidad's Carnival is not a typical parade. In Trinidad you don't stand alongside the road and watch the band go by - you join in, sing, dance and are absolutely a part of the event. 

Over the years, Trinidad's Carnival has developed into one of the most colorful and culturally mixed pre-Lenten celebrations in the world. Prohibited from joining the plantation balls, African slaves celebrated their own Carnival in private. When slavery was abolished in 1838, the freed Africans took their Carnival celebrations to the streets. As each new immigrant population entered Trinidad, a new flavor was added to the annual event.

Preparations for Carnival start months in advance. Fetes (parties), band launches (fetes to show off a groups costume designs), steel band practice, costume making and calypso tents (calypso concerts) start as early as three months in advance of the actual Carnival dates. 

For more information on this cultural explosion, visit the National Carnival Commissions website at www.carnivalncc.com or www.tntisland.com/carnival.html (offers a list of all fetes) or visit the Trinidad & Tobago tourism website at www.visitTNT.com.

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