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It's Carnival time in the Caribbean
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Trinidad Carnival revelers "wining" (gyrating hips rapidly). PHOTO COURTESY: Jean-Marc/Jo BeLo/Jhon-John
Next Wednesday (Feb. 25) is Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent, which means Carnival time in the Caribbean is reaching its climax. Some of the best celebrations take place in the southern Caribbean, on the Dutch ABC islands and Trinidad.
Aruba
Several parades will be held on the island of Aruba beginning this weekend through Fat Tuesday. Thursday is the Lighting Parade in San Nicolas, Aruba’s second-largest city. The parade begins at 8 p.m. in this former oil boomtown. San Nicolas is also the place to be Saturday, starting early in the morning (or very late at night, depending on your perspective). The action begins at 4 a.m. (yes, you read that right) with Jouvert Morning, the island’s largest “jump up.” This amounts to a large, moving pajama party. You’re invited to join in the fun by mingling with the thousands of people following live music caravans through the city until sunrise. A few hours later, at noon, the Grand Carnival Parade begins in San Nicolas. Decorated floats bear beautifully-costumed local residents through the streets of the town until sunset.
Sunday, festivities switch to Aruba’s largest city, Oranjestad. Aruba’s 55th Grand Carnival Parade kicks off at 11 a.m. Lavish floats, plumed costumes, and tropical music are the hallmarks of this celebration, which lasts into the early evening.
Monday is a national holiday in Aruba. The parade action switches back to San Nicolas for the Old Mask Parade, beginning at 8 p.m. The highlight of this event is the burning in effigy of King Momito (known elsewhere as King Momo), who reigns over Carnival.
King Momo gets burned again in effigy the following night in Oranjestad, at the conclusion of that community’s Old Mask Parade. This officially marks the end of Carnival.
Bonaire
Monday is also a holiday on the nearby island of Bonaire. The inhabitants no doubt need a day of rest following parades Saturday in Rincon and Sunday in Kralendijk. The Playa Parade in Kralendijk winds up with King Momo going up in flames to the accompaniment of fireworks. Carnival in Bonaire is less crowded than many other islands, but no less colorful.
Curacao
On Curacao, the biggest event of Carnival is this Sunday’s Gran Marcha (Grand Parade). Tens of thousands of spectators are expected to line the 10-kilometer long parade route through the streets of historic Otrobanda. Next Tuesday, the Carnival season on Curacao concludes with the nighttime Grand Farewell Parade, featuring lighted floats. The event concludes at midnight, when, you guessed it, King Momo is burned in effigy to appease the gods.
Trinidad
Nowhere in the Caribbean is Carnival celebrated more spectacularly and enthusiastically than on the island of Trinidad. The Carnival events are too numerous to mention in total, but things build to a crescendo Monday and Tuesday. Monday begins with J’Ouvert, which begins, as in Aruba, at 4 a.m. Islanders cover themselves in paint and other substances (even chocolate, I understand) to portray monsters and demons while they gyrate to the sounds of soca music. Once daylight arrives, the streets are taken over by bands of Pretty Mas players in colorful costumes, dancing to soca provided by traveling music trucks.
Tuesday things get underway at 8 a.m. with parades featuring judging of bands and thousands of costumed masqueraders. The revelry continues all day.
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