Originally, Carnival is a Western Christian festive season occurring before the liturgical season of Lent in February or early March. It typically involves a parade and/or a public celebration. Although carnivals in the Caribbean countries are at least partially based on European celebrations, they don’t necessarily occur before Lent. Many Caribbean carnivals are held in summer, including the Carnival of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, also known as Vincy Mas.
Vincy Mas has been celebrated for over four decades. Carnival Monday and Carnival Tuesday even are official public holidays in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The Carnival season in the country typically launches in May, but the most important events kick off in late June.
So, what does Vincy Mas have to offer? The carnival features calypso, soca and steelpan competitions for local musicians, pageants (Miss Carnival and Miss SVG), the crowning of the Soca Monarch, large street parties, and more.
Two main events at Vincy Mas are J’ouvert and Mardi Gras. J’ouvert is a large street party typical for Caribbean carnivals. It usually starts around midnight and lasts until the wee hours of the morning. The word “j’ouvert” is a contraction of the French words “day” and “open”, it means “dawn” in some of the French-based creole languages of the Caribbean. Another highlight of Vincy Mas is the Mardi Gras parade. Although it doesn’t actually happen on Fat Tuesday, it was named so because it is just as joyful and colorful as any Mardi Gras parade.
Vincy Mas is a spectacular celebration of Caribbean music, culture, heritage and color. Its fantastic steelpan, soca and calypso performances, street parties and parades with vibrant costumes, exciting contests and other entertaining events are a major tourist attraction in the region. Although similar to other Caribbean carnivals, Vincy Mas has its own unique atmosphere.
Photo: kim rogerz
