Imagine yourself, drink in hand, moving to the pulsating sounds of the latest soca tunes, completely lost in the revelry and pageantry that is Carnival. Well, in this scenario you can imagine yourself in just about any Carnival celebration in the Caribbean.
Now imagine yourself in the same scenario, only this time the action is nonstop, the music just drives you crazy and the intensity of the party and party people is much, much more than you would have expected.
Every island can boast of its own Carnival characteristics, its distinctive brand of music and its unique portrayal and interpretation of Mas. However, in Grenada our Carnival celebrations stand out in a way that would astound and please even the most devoted and seasoned Carnival lover.
Our traditional mas offers some insight into Grenada of the past and the passion of the Vecour, Shortknee and Wild Indian players seem to intensify as the years go by. The phenomenon that is Jab Jab continues to baffle even Grenadians.The rest of the world was officially introduced to the Jab Jab and its accompanying music when Tallpree released his bigger than life hit "Ole Woman Alone". The distinctive sound of the conch shell resonates passionately through any Jab Jab themed song and any such composition is guaranteed to be a hit during Spicemas.
Grenada’s Soca Monarch competition is now the envy of the rest of the region. Sixteen of the hottest Artistes of the Carnival season, performing sixteen of the hottest soca tunes, accompanied by 10,000 screaming, rag and flag waving fans. No one leaves the until all the results are read out, because the winners are never obvious as all the Artistes enter the competition with a very good chance of walking away with the title.
J’Ouvert could be heralded as the biggest street party of its kind anywhere in the region. Attire is not a difficult issue; shorts, sneakers and a t-shirt will suffice. Be prepared; however, to have that look altered during the course of Carnival Monday morning. Body paint of every shade forms part of the morning’s festivity and whether you are part of a registered band or just an onlooker, a very generous masquerader will be more than happy to make you appearance blend in with the celebratory surroundings.
Last year Grenada celebrated 25 years of their Carnival as we know it in August, so by that estimation official Carnival in Grenada has been around only since 1982, though I have read that it was celebrated on a much smaller scale since emancipation:
"Grenada's Carnival has been celebrated on the island since the Europeans occupied the island. Although smaller and lesser known than its Caribbean counterparts, carnival has the same magnificence that any of the best have to offer. It is believed that the Trinidad carnival was heavily influenced by Grenada due to the Catholics that resettled in Trinidad with their slaves, who celebrated as they did while in Grenada, and thus influencing the natives."
SOURCE
That being said in spite of the inflated claims and self promotion the proof, as they say, is in the pudding and I surely do not have to use litotes and similes to convince anyone that the best Regional Carnival is held in Trinidad and Tobago.
For more information on Spice Mas 2007 you can visit the official website here. The following are a list of events on the upcoming Spice Mas calender:
Children's Carnival Frolic Sat. Aug 4th
St. John's Soca Monarch Sun. Aug 5th
St. Andrew's Calypso Monarch Thurs. Aug 9th
National Soca Monarch Finals Fri. Aug 10th
Panorama Sat. Aug 11th
Dimanche Gras Sun. Aug 12th
Jouvert/Pageant/ Mon.Night Mas Mon. Aug 13th
Parade of the Bands / Last Lap Tues. Aug 14th
7 comments:
You are correct that Carnival in August is only 25 years old. However, VCarnival has been celebrated on the pre-lenten dates for many years before and the exact date is unknown. It was moved to August for tourism reasons.
The Pierot Granade is a traditional Grenadian mas which was started in Trinidad by Grenadians - you need to research that some more.
Many of Trinidad's top calypsonians came from Grenada. Mighty Sparrow being the most famous, there is also bomber, Valentino and numerous others. Even a lot born there are of Grenadian parentage.
While the Grenada carnival is smaller - logically with a small population - the enjoyment aspect is tops. Try monday night mas. Ask any Trinidadian who has been to Grenada for carnival; it is addictive.
Anon I am not disputing the fact that Sparrow is Grenadian, I don't think that we in Trinidad lay claim to him as "ours" nor am I refuting your claims that several Calypsonians have parents who migrated here.
However can you please provide me with any articles or historical evidence that the Pierrot was started in Trinidad by Grenadians? All the articles I have read show the Traditional Characters synonymous with Trinidad's Carnival being adaptations of mockery of the French and popular culture of the day:
http://www.nalis.gov.tt/carnival/carnival.htm
I can fully understand Carnival being used for tourism and being kept in August for such a reason and that is a whole topic that can open a can of worms as far as I am concerned!!
The issue I take with the article is claims that other islands envy Grenada's Soca Monarch competition and that their J'ouvert is the best in the Island.
Surely Foreday Morning Jump Up in Barbados, another "small island" is bigger!! Fact is Grenada Carnival is slowly but surely growing in popularity among islanders but I do the claims made in the write up of Spice Mas are farfetched.
i think that like other islands they are writing to attract clueless or curious tourists to come to their island during carnival...but besides all dat exxageration i wud luv to go to their spice mas!
To see last year was 25 years of Grenada's carnival, it was just a big old block party in St. George's. Monday morning jouvert starts late and is finished by 8AM. Tuesday is just totally boring, with people standing around looking at each other. If you want to have fun during Grenada's carnival check out the jouvert and other carnival activities in Sauteurs, Gouyave, Grenville and even Victoria. Carnival in St. George's is not worth it!
Firstly Grenada's Jouvert is the biggest in the Caribbean and it's a FACT. Trinidad's Jouvert is MUD, not old oil with drums, chains, snakes and serpents as in the Spiceisle. I have been to Trinidad Jouvert and I call it the "rich people" Jouvert because when we Grenadians go down to Trini and ask for ole oil dem trini does watch us like we crazy. And besides the violence in Trinidad Carnival is not welcoming either.
Secondly, you cannot compare Trini Carnival with Grenada. What is TnT's population against Grenada's? Besides if Grenada's Carnival is so boring why does "Panorama" come to Grenada every year with over 300 trinis for Carnival?
Soca Monarch in Grenada is the BIGGEST in the Caribbean because we feature LOCAL artiste. Trinidad, on the other hand features foreign artistes which is what makes the TnT's Soca Monarch so big? Let Trinidad try a Soca Monarch with only locals see how many will turn up?
Grenada is a small Island and for a country hit by two Hurricanes and being able to have Carnival a month later (after Emily) to me is a plus. Trinidad's fame is from Grenada, remember that.
Black Stalin
Sparrow
Bomber
Valentino
Iwer George
Colin Lucas
Kitchener
Leaves one to wonder why Bunji & his Wife decided to spend two weeks in Grenada for Spicemas 2007 for only two shows. Leave the small island alone, we are unique in our own little way. One thing is for certain we don't have to lock our doors and cars on Jouvert morning. We only have to worry when 'Panorama' comes to Grenada, because "pick pockets" become rampant. Ask the Partygrenada.com webmaster about the Trini that stole his camera and cel phone and still had the nerve to answer it when he called. He got a proper cutarse and placed in Grenada's Cell until 'Panorama' was ready to depart.
Trinidad has the biggest Carnival in the Caribbean, but is it safe? I know spicemas is.
Regardless if those above named artists are from Grenada. If they did not go to Trinidad they would have only to be known in Grenada. Trinidad brought them rightfully earned fame that my country Grenada could have never done for them. I am sorry that Baby Killer was born in Grenada, cause if he was in Trinidad he would have made it much further by now cause he is very talented. Will the world ever know?
Are we discussing Carnival or crime because maybe we should be adding Brazil to the mix since their Carnival suffers from pick pockets as well.
My point was with the claims that Grenada Carnival has the biggest jouvert and biggest Soca Monarch...numbers to numbers you cannot deny Trinidad Carnival has the numbers. We not debating the authenticty of jouvert but trust me many bands STILL play jouvert in oil and mud..Tico Skinner and Burrokeets are 2 that come to mind.
As for Trinidad's "fame" coming from Grenada do you mean apart from Sparrow the others listed have Grenadian parents? Thank Goodness Trini's MOST famous soca star Machel Montano is not on that list or else we would owe everything to Grenada!
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