Carnival in Trinidad is a cultural explosion of music, dancing, and festivity. Learn about the history of Trinidad Carnival. Celebrated before Lent, carnival season starts immediately after Christmas and ends the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The word carnival is derived from carne vale, which means “farewell to meat”. This symbolizes the indulgence, enjoyment, and free spirit right before the contrasting solemnity and fasting of the Lenten season.

Carnival in Trinidad dates back to the 18^th century. At that time, Trinidad was owned by the Spanish but also populated by French Catholic settlers who brought their own traditions to the island. These French settlers hosted masquerade balls between Christmas and Ash Wednesday. The West African slaves on the French-owned plantations were not allowed to take part in the masquerades and celebrations.

However, the West African slaves held their own festivities, where they mimicked their owners’ masking traditions during the burning and harvesting of sugar cane. The French phrase cannes brulees (burnt cane) was used to describe this event. The phrase eventually evolved into Canboulay. This harvest festival consisted of traditional West African drumming, singing, dancing and stick fighting. Canboulay is the precursor to present day Carnival in Trinidad.

After the abolition of slavery (Emancipation), the descendants of the African slaves continued their tradition of Canboulay, which served as a symbol of their freedom. By this time, the British had taken over and now owned Trinidad and Tobago. The French were no longer dominant in society and the Trinidadian African descendants had taken over the masquerading, by blending it with their own Canboulay. They at first celebrated Canboulay on the anniversary of their emancipation, but because of the blending with the French masquerade festivities, the celebration eventually changed to the pre-Lenten season of Carnival. Canboulay/Carnival celebrations were combined to include masquerading in costumes (today known as playing mas), dancing, music (kaiso/calypso, drumming, steel pan) and events such as J’ouvert and stick fighting.

The British colonial government saw Canboulay as a threat to public order and tried to suppress these celebrations by outlawing drumming, masquerading, and stick fighting. To the Trinidadian African descendants however, Canboulay was their festival, their tradition, their culture. They would not allow the British to take this away from them. This defiance led to the Canboulay Riots, between the revelers and the police. Canboulay/Carnival was eventually adopted as a symbol of Trinidadian culture during the country’s movement towards independence from the British, which Trinidad gained in 1962.

Today, Carnival is a huge part of Trinidad’s culture. Not only is Carnival a national festival in Trinidad, but it is now celebrated by all the people of the island regardless of race, class, or age. Carnival has evolved over the years, incorporating various elements and influences from other cultures brought to Trinidad (Chutney Soca is an example of the Indian influence and contribution to Carnival). Carnival is indeed a symbol of freedom and unity for the people of Trinidad. This expression of Trinidadian culture has gained popularity worldwide. Many visitors from other countries travel all the way to Trinidad to experience the revelry which has earned the reputation of the greatest show on earth. So go ahead, plan your trip to Trinidad Carnival and have the time of your life!