Trinidad Carnival Essay

813 Words4 Pages
Imagine an explosion of color, music, partying, and creativity all on one beautiful island, with thousands of people all moving to the same rhythm! Imagine an explosion of color, music, partying, and creativity all on one beautiful island, with thousands of people all moving to the same rhythm! Trinidad's Carnival has initiated similar celebrations around the world; but nothing on earth can ever compare to the euphoria and stunning spectacle of Trinidad’s festival. Along with extensive research, I too have joined in on the celebration of unity for many years, jumping up and waving my flag on the streets of Trinidad during Carnival. Today I would like to share with you some of the unforgettable moments I experienced at Carnival. I’ll start off by discussing where it originated from, the different festivities and music, and the costumes that make up Carnival in Trinidad. Let us first begin by discussing a little bit of its history. Like the multi-ethnic mix of peoples and cultures that shaped the island, Trinidad's Carnival has many influences. According to GoTrinidad copyright 2009, the Spanish and English colonial powers, French planters, African slaves, Indian indentured laborers, and the many other ethnic groups that settled here have all left an indelible mark on the festival. In 1783 the French brought their culture, customs and Carnival, in the form of elaborate masquerade balls, to Trinidad along with African slaves. The period stretching between Christmas and the start of Lent was a time for feasting, fancy dress balls and celebration for both the French and British. Banned from the festivities, slaves in the barrack yards would hold their own celebrations mimicking their masters' behavior while incorporating rituals and folklore. Once slavery was abolished in 1838, the freed Africans took their Carnival to the streets and, as each new immigrant population
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