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List of Caribbean carnivals around the world

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Trinidad and Tobago Carnival

Caribbean Carnival[1] is the cultural celebration held annually throughout the year in many Caribbean islands and worldwide. It's a highly anticipated event in the Caribbean where locals and visitors come together to dance, savor cultural music, and indulge in delicious foods.[2]

It stems from a pagan holiday, later adopted by the Roman Catholic Church as Carne Vale. European slave traders brought it to the Caribbean, excluding African slaves and hosting lavish masquerade balls. After emancipation, freed African slaves transformed the festival into a celebration of freedom, blending African heritage and Caribbean Creole culture.[3]

In 1834, the Caribbean festival took root in Trinidad and Tobago, when French settlers brought the Fat Tuesday masquerade tradition to the island. It soon became a vibrant celebration, blending Creole Canboulay festivities with the European masquerade, eventually evolving into the modern Caribbean Carnival. At its start, formerly enslaved individuals expressed their freedom through music, clothing, and dance, leading to the dynamic fusion of African influences and Creole culture.[4][5]

Carnival traditions differ across islands, typically consisting of activities like playing Mas (masquerade), the selection of a King and Queen, and reveling in diverse Caribbean music styles like calypso, jam-band, steelpan, and soca. Pre-carnival festivities such as J'ouvert feature cultural characters such as the Moko Jumbie and Dame Lorraine, adding to the vibrant celebrations.[4][6]

Although there are similar celebrations, not every Caribbean Carnival adopts the name "Carnival". For instance, in the Bahamas, Junkanoo commemorates the emancipations of slavery since 1884 through lively parades. Barbados hosts the Crop Over Festival, dating back to the 17th century, honoring successful sugar cane harvests at the end of July.[7]

Local Caribbean carnivals

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Mocko jumbie, St. John Festival, USVI

Approximate dates are given for the concluding festivities. Carnival season may last for more than a month prior to the concluding festivities, and the exact dates vary from year to year.

International Caribbean carnivals

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Canada

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Carifest Parade in Calgary
  • "Caribe-Expo" — In the city of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada.
  • CariMas (previously "Carifiesta") — In the city of Montreal in Quebec, Canada, typically 2–3 weeks before Toronto's carnival
  • "Toronto Caribbean Carnival — In Toronto, Ontario, it draws close to a million visitors to the city.
  • "Carnival"(cancelled) — In the city of Hamilton, 1 week after Toronto's Caribana.
  • "Carifest" — In the city of Calgary in Alberta, Canada.
  • "Cariwest" — Held annually the second week of August in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, drawing more than 60,000 visitors a year. Cariwest boasts an amazing display of masqueraders in the main parade, and is a beautiful festival full of food and entertainment in the heart of downtown.
  • Barrie's Caribfest[51] (parade has been cancelled since 2011)
  • CariBridge Caribbean Carnival in Lethbridge Alberta brings a unique and diverse culture to southern Alberta and focuses on bringing Caribbean culture through food, music, dance, and art.

A unique attraction distinguishing this Caribbean event is its location. This dynamic, exciting event features some of the best Canadian and international Caribbean performers in music, dance, costumes, and world drumming. Events are held from Friday to Sunday throughout every third weekend of August. The Grand Parade in Toronto is held on the first Saturday of August to commemorate the abolition of the slave trade on August 1, 1838.

France

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2014 Tropical Carnival of Paris
  • Carnaval Antillais de Colombes — every year late June.
  • Carnaval Tropical de Paris — every year early July.
  • Carnaval de Montpellier — every year in February.
  • Carnaval of French West Indies, about two months between the Sunday of Epiphany and Ash Wednesday[52]

Germany

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The Netherlands

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United Kingdom

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Notting Hill Carnival, London
Chapeltown Carnival, Leeds
Leicester Caribbean Carnival

United States

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Labor Day Carnival, United States

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "WIADRA westindian carnival organisation". Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  2. ^ "List of Carnival and the world". Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  3. ^ "History of the Caribbean Carnival – By Michael La Rose – Charleston Caribbean". 2023-05-06. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  4. ^ a b "History of Caribbean Carnival". www.cariviews.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  5. ^ Magazine, Smithsonian; Djinis, Elizabeth. "A Brief History of How Carnival Is Celebrated Around the World". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  6. ^ Ghayati, Mehdia (2024-02-26). "Caribbean Carnival: History and Culture | Magazine PONANT". Magazine de voyage Escales : interviews, inspirations et conseils | Magazine PONANT. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  7. ^ "Barbados Festivals: Crop Over!". barbados.org. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  8. ^ Anguilla Summer Festival
  9. ^ Antigua Carnival Facebook page
  10. ^ Barbuda Caribana Facebook page
  11. ^ Visit Aruba: Aruba Carnival
  12. ^ Barbados Crop Over Calendar
  13. ^ "Bahamas Events – Fishing Tournaments and Annual Festivals".
  14. ^ Belize Carnival
  15. ^ Tourism Bonaire: Carnival on Bonaire
  16. ^ "BVI August Festival". Bareboats BVI. Archived from the original on 2015-12-28.
  17. ^ BVI Tourism: Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Celebrations
  18. ^ Cayman Carnival Batabano
  19. ^ [1]
  20. ^ Cuban Adventures: Carnival in Santiago de Cuba
  21. ^ Cuba Absolutely: The Havana Carnival
  22. ^ Curaçao Carnival Info: Schedule
  23. ^ Dominica Carnival
  24. ^ Dominican Republic Carnival / Carnaval
  25. ^ Party Grenada: Carriacou Carnival Archived 2013-06-30 at archive.today
  26. ^ Spicemas
  27. ^ Guadeloupe Islands Tourist Board: Carnaval Archived 2013-05-30 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ Guyana Government Information Agency: Mashramani
  29. ^ Guyana Carnival
  30. ^ Haiti Travels: Carnival Archived 2012-12-27 at the Wayback Machine
  31. ^ "Bacchanal Jamaica". Archived from the original on 2001-03-08. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  32. ^ "Carnival in Jamaica – Everything to know as a visitor". 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  33. ^ "Events – Gen XS Jamaica". genxsjamaica.com. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  34. ^ Martinique Carnival Archived 2013-04-24 at the Wayback Machine
  35. ^ Montserrat Tourist Board: Our Carnival Archived 2013-05-26 at the Wayback Machine
  36. ^ Smithsonian: A Puerto Rican Carnival
  37. ^ Saba Carnival Facebook page
  38. ^ Hello St-Barts Carnival
  39. ^ "Lucian Carnival Events". Archived from the original on 2013-05-17. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  40. ^ St. Kitts Nevis National Carnival
  41. ^ "Nevis Culturama". Archived from the original on 2010-01-08. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  42. ^ Saint-Martin Carnival Committee
  43. ^ St Vincent and the Grenadines Carnival
  44. ^ St Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation: Carnival Archived 2013-05-09 at the Wayback Machine
  45. ^ St. Maarten Carnival Facebook page
  46. ^ National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Dates Archived 2013-04-21 at the Wayback Machine
  47. ^ [2] Archived 2013-05-18 at the Wayback Machine
  48. ^ St Croix Festival
  49. ^ VInow: Virgin Islands Carnival Celebrations
  50. ^ VI Carnival Facebook page
  51. ^ Welcome to the Barrie Caribbean Festival
  52. ^ Guadeloupe-guide: Events in Guadeloupe
  53. ^ Karneval der Kulturen
  54. ^ Summer Carnival,
  55. ^ Atlanta Carnival
  56. ^ "BCA Carnival". Archived from the original on 2018-04-21. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  57. ^ MIAMI BROWARD ONE CARNIVAL 2012
  58. ^ Madison Carnival
  59. ^ Bayou Bacchanal
  60. ^ NOLA CaribbeanFestival
  61. ^ New Orleans Caribbean Carnival
  62. ^ "HOME | caribmask".
  63. ^ Carnaval San Francisco Parade
  64. ^ Virginia Caribfest
  65. ^ "DC Caribbean Festival". Archived from the original on 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
  66. ^ Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Archived 2015-02-04 at the Wayback Machine
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