Have you experienced Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago? Why not?
So you haven't been to Trinidad & Tobago yet? Then you're missing one of the biggest shows on earth! But don't worry (…be happy) because you still have plenty of chances to see and experience this awesome event!
TnT Carnival is one of the most spectacular festivals of it’s kind anywhere in the world. (My blog, my opinion (:). I could not grasp the scope of this while growing up in TnT, and simply took it for granted. After all, I was young and Carnival was a normal event to me. There were many years when I did not celebrate at all because I knew that I could celebrate the following year. It was when I left the TnT, that I understood the true scope of Carnival, and I yearned for the excitement and energy of this grand celebration. However, on the world stage, there is a somewhat blatant lack of recognition of TnT Carnival, and I encourage you to check out TnT Carnival.
First, I think it is important to know where TnT is located. These twin jewel islands, with all of their natural beauty, sit at the very southern end of the chain of Caribbean islands. They are approximately eight miles from the north of Venezuela just off TnT’s northwest coast. (See bottom right of map.) The island of Trinidad has one of the most unique geographical shapes. This uniqueness carries over in may ways to the very diverse population of TnT (1.3 million of some of the most fun-loving people you'll ever meet), and it is this diversity that makes Carnival so vibrant and explosive every year! Only in TnT at Carnival time can you find Trinidadians and Tobagonians, nationals from other Caribbean islands, Europeans, Americans, Asians, Hispanics, Africans and many others, coming together as one to dance, play mas and jump up in a band.
Carnival was introduced to TnT in the early 1800s by theFrench, but has elements of both the French (the religious aspect (Catholic) and the costuming), and West African (festival heritage brought by slaves, and the dancing and music) intertwined.* Back then, Carnival took place right before Lent when the crops were plentiful, and it was a way to prepare for fasting that was associated with Lent (usually at the end of February). So celebrating Carnival was viewed as the last chance to indulge until Lent was over.
In those days, Carnival was celebrated by the colonial masters and upper class only, and was primarily a social event. Those elites wore masks that covered their faces and lavish outfits to Carnival events. Unfortunately, slaves were banned from celebrating this occasion. But as it turned out, they somehow they managed to copy the celebration and added their own flavours of music, singing and dancing, and they were the ones who turned it into the Carnival we know and celebrate today. (Thank goodness for that! LOL!)
In the past, old time TnT Carnival themes were portrayed by masqueraders who wore costumes like Midnight Robber, Police and Thief, Wild Indian, Bat, Jab Molassie, Jab Jab, Red Devil, Blue Devil, and Dame Lorraine. At the end of WWII, the presence of US sailors brought sailors’ mas to TnT Carnival adding to the growth of the celebration.** Today, some of the old themes are still around while others have transformed and new ones are created every year. You can now find a variety of costumes that make up a Carnival band to tell a story, ranging from tales of TnT folklore to modern technology.
Although there are many elements to TnT Carnival, there are three main competitive events, for which preparations take place almost year-round:
The main event is the Parade of the Bands, which takes place on Carnival Tuesday. (This is a spectacle you truly 
have to see to believe!) The temperature outside can be 90 degree temperatures, but I guarantee you will get "goosebumps" when you see the parade of the bands. Some of the Carnival bands are made up of many thousands of masqueraders, with each one being led by a King and Queen of the band. Each band has a starting location somewhere in the city and the masqueraders all dance and parade towards the Grand Stage at the Queen's Park Savannah, where they are judged. So, the music is pumped up and the energy gets very high as the sea of beautiful female and handsome male masqueraders approach the judging area to encourage the crowds to cheer for them. Bands parade across this stage from morning until well into the night. (Although each band competes for bragging rights of the Carnival, the crème de la crème competition is to see who is crowned the King and Queen of the Band. To win, each band tries to outdo the other with bright colours and elaborate designs, the size of the costumes and the energy they exert when they cross the Grand Stage. This is when you can experience the true spirit of TnT Carnival.)
Another major event is the Calypso finals. TnT has some of the world's best and most innovative calypsonians, both male and female, who compete for title of Calypso Monarch during Carnival. There are some spectacular prizes that go along with this title, so I don't have to tell you how competitive this event can be as each calypsonian tries to outdo the other with his/her performance on stage. Their spicy island beats are sure to get your hips moving (even if involuntarily, lol). Calypsonians also get more recognition if their song is the most played (de Road March song) during the Parade of Bands competition on Carnival Tuesday. This is a great honor for any calypsonian for one year until the next year's competition.
And then there is Panorama. Aahhh, sweet pan as we say in TnT! (Trinidadians have fine tuned the art of making beautiful music from steel drums!) This event highlights the top pan yards that TnT has to offer in the steelband finals. Trinidad has the best steelpan players and the best pan compositions anywhere in the world. Therefore, TnT is the only place where you can have a truly fulfilling experience of this unique form of music. It's magical! Nowhere else in the world can you find such authentic, organized and harmonious beats coming from steel drums! The rivalry among the various pan yards only ensures that you will never be bored listening to them. Every year they produce bigger and better pan productions. In addition, nowhere else in the world can you wear a sequined gown, or, shorts and a t-shirt to hear the same music. Pan has transformed from music played for jumping up, wining and getting on wassy in the street during Carnival, to an elegant evening out to listen to what is the harmonious, symphonic rhythms that a steelband orchestra offers. What an experience!
The first (and most significant) morning of Carnival is called j’ouvert morning (pronounced "joovay" in TnT) and literally means day opening or morning or daybreak. This morning on Carnival Monday, announces the start of Carnival and is mostly about playing mud mas. Yes, mud! Revellers smear mud all over their bodies (both men and women wear the barest of clothes for the full effect of the mud) and parade in the early hours of the morning. More recently, other things like melted chocolate, oil and body paint have all been used to play mas on joovay morning. You're free to participate if you can wake up at 2:00am in the morning. (Bring your own oil and chocolate!)
Nighttime is also popular during the entire Carnival season because you’re sure to find fetes everywhere. (Truth is, fetes take place year round, because people in TnT love to party!) TnT Carnival would be nothing without dancing and music and thank goodness for the steelpan, calypso and soca. Without them, there would be nothing to dance to, although during Carnival you can see people dancing to their own beats. Going to a fete is a natural part of TnT Carnival. For some people, this is how they "warm up" for the Carnival parade, for others, it's just another reason to have a rum and coke.
One of the truly amazing sights during TnT Carnival is de big trucks, which take on a life of their own and are an important and integral part of Carnival in TnT. These eighteen-wheelers and semis are stacked with huge speakers that blast the sweet soca sounds of Carnival music along the parade route for the masqueraders and spectators alike to dance to. (You really have to see these trucks to believe and literally feel the vibrations.) If you don't feel like dancing though to de big truck music, just chip your way down the street and conserve your energy for the evening fetes. But I think the effect de big trucks will have on you will leave you helpless. You will want do jump up! Just give in, don't resist or you might hurt yourself! Lol!
Don't expect your energy to last for five days without some mouth-watering TnT cuisine, which is just as diverse as the population. There is only one place to get truly authentic TnT cuisine and that is in TnT. Bake and Shark (pictured here), roti, bar-b-que, curry-que, corn soup and even chinese food (and pepper sauce on de side with everything) are all popular choices during the Carnival season. In order to keep jumping up, these delicious offerings are Carnival necessities. Wash them down with a cool coconut water straight from the nut (and don't forget the coconut jelly), or rum and coke, the drink of choice during Carnival. If you’d prefer an ice-cold one, try TnT’s best brew, Carib Lager Beer, or you can find Guinness, Heineken, soft drinks and water everywhere. Believe me, you'll have no problem finding any of these anywhere during the celebrations. 
Although it’s called by many different names, Carnival is celebrated in other countries in much the same way. Many of these other Carnival celebrations have roots in and were influenced by TnT Carnival. Below are some of the other names Carnival goes by and the places where it is celebrated:
Antigua, West Indies
Baltimore, Maryland USA (Carnival)
Barbados, West Indies (Cropover)
Boston, Massachusetts USA (Carnival)
Brooklyn, New York USA (Labour Day on the Parkway)
Jamaica, West Indies
Miami, Florida USA (Carnival )
Notting Hill, Great Britain (Notting Hill Carnival)
Rio DeJaneiro, Brazil (Carnaval)
St. Lucia, West Indies
Toronto, Canada (Caribana)
Washington, DC USA (Caribbean Carnival)
Although I can appreciate the strides that Carnival has made in other countries and the contributions to its growth by other nationalities, there is nothing like the original Carnival in TnT! Call me biased if you wish, I can live with that because I’m Trini To De Bone!
After jumping up for five days, head to the beach to wind down. Don't try to fight it, because it's the way Carnival was designed. (It's an automatic response.) You party hard then you rest up! Grab your sun tan lotion or sun block and get some much needed R & R and sun at Maracas Bay, a popular destination after the Carnival celebration is over. Just lay on the beach for hours, you really don't have to do anything. Let the sun and the warm island breezes do the work for ou. You can also check out the rest of the island, or head over to Tobago to chill out. Check out Bucco Reef or the Nylon Pool, or take your choice of which beach you want to soak up some rays, and while you’re there and you’ll be sure to get a good amount of Tobagonian hospitality.
With about 200 years of history, Carnival is a huge part of TnT culture. There are many people who live for Ca
rnival and I believe without a doubt that revellers can expect at least another 200 years of bigger and better TnT Carnival celebrations. I also believe that there is not a single person in TnT who can imagine the twin islands without Carnival. Wha' yuh talking 'bout? If you've never experienced TnT Carnival, wha' yuh waiting for? Yuh won't know wha' yuh missin' until yuh get there. If yuh doh believe meh, see for yuhself, and if anybody ask, tell dem ah sen' yuh! Jus' jump on a plane an' when yuh reach Port of Spain, get off. Still not convinced? Well, it's time to plan your trip to TnT for Carnival for some Fun in the Sun and doh forget de sun tan lotion or sun block!.
See the dates below for the next six years, but hurry because Carnival doh wait fuh nobody! LOL!
YEAR DATES
2010 February 15 &16
2011 March 7 & 8
2012 February 20 & 21
2013 February 11 & 12
2014 March 3 & 4
2015 February 16 & 17
Written and posted by TriniDiva (NSL-R)
