As most of you know next month is the Carnival in Trinidad & Tobago. Here
are a few articles on That subject matter.

The Origin Of Carnival

When one asks what is the origin of Carnival - it is said that Carnival
originated from a pagan custom during the pre-Christian period of the
Saturnalia a custom which was modified by the church to become a two day
festival before Ash Wednesday, when converts were permitted to pay
ÔfarewellÕ to the devil, pomp, vanity and lust of the flesh before entering
upon the period of fasting and repentance during the forty days of lent.
The word itself is derived from the Latin word ÔCarne ValeÕ meaning
ÔfarewellÕ to the flesh.
However, it is said, two slave customs might have some important bearing on
Carnival in Trinidad, one was the inter-estate games and the other Cannes
Boulay (Cannes Brulees or burning canes).
During the inter-estate gatherings, there were stick games, songs and
dances, bongos and calindas. On the other hand, when a fire broke out on
any of the estates, slaves from the neighboring estates were brought to
extinguish the fire. They made fire tracks, wide clearings across the
neighboring cane field to prevent progress of the fire.
These gangs singing their work songs, were equipped with flambeaux or
burning canes, (called Cannes Brulees in French) but was soon slightly
altered by the Afro-French dialect (Patois) to Canne Boulay. From the cane
fire procession there were regular night processions, whenever the social
occasion warranted it. This was said to be the start of Carnival in
Trinidad.
It was not very long when an occasion did warrant celebrations. It was the
abolishment of African Slavery. In 1838, the freed slaves thronged the
streets in bands of masqueraders, transforming the pre-Lenten revelry,
which, in those days were celebrated Monday and Tuesday before Ash
Wednesday. Over-joyed, they celebrated Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before
the Ash-Wednesday. This brought severe criticism from influential circles
and the local newspaper branded it as a desecration of the Sabbath and
called for the abolishment of the street masqueraders.
Ostensibly, there was heed for the Sabbath in the future, for in 1843,
Carnival which was formerly held for three days before Ash Wednesday, was
held for two days instead. No sooner had this problem been solved another
shot up. Although the festival was officially controlled, no fixed time for
the commencement of the celebration was set.
This resulted in revelers taking to the streets just past midnight on a
Sunday with their flambeaux, which met with disapproval by the police.
There were serious clashes between the revelers and the police.
All through the years, Trinidad Carnival experienced a very lean time.
There were the inevitable derogatory remarks made by people from
influential circle and attacks spear-headed by the local newspaper. The
battle of words did come to a climax. In 1881, a pitch battle ensued
between masquerades and the police, as they were more determined than ever
to suppress the custom of parading the streets on Sunday night with lighted
flambeaux. There were clashes, so serious that it was recorded in history
as the Cannes Boulay riots.
Seven years later, in 1888, an official proclamation, sought to regulate
the manner and the time within which the Carnival celebrations was to be
confined.
This bore fruit, as in 1900 the carnival celebration was considered Ôone of
the most respectable, most orderly, least obscene and yet most thoroughly
and generally enjoyed Carnival, and a credit to its numerous supports.Õ
The year 1900, could be classified as the period, when organized Carnival
celebrations began. There were many musical string bands, clowns, devils,
wild Indians, etc.
Every year showed a marked improvement in the Carnival celebrations,
especially, the year 1898, when Charlie ÔDon DonÕ Maxwell sang a calypso in
English for the first time. Since calypso singing formed an integral part
in the carnival celebrations, this must have been a welcomed change.
Formerly calypsoes were sung in the French Patois dialect.
The subsequent years showed progress in the carnival celebrations. Bands
were becoming more beautiful and increased in numbers. New trends were
introduced, advertising gimmicks, historical events and the parade of
floats or decorated lorries around the Grand Savannah.
The year 1939 was an eventful one. As hostilities in Europe resulted in the
cessation of the Carnival celebrations. It was a Trinidad devoid of
Carnival celebrations for five years and eight months, until May 6th. 1945,
when the war ended and the populace was promised a victory Ôjump-upÕ. This
they did and carnival was in the air again being accompanied by the
steelband, the successor of the Tamboo-Bamboo band.
It was Ômas for soÕ in the years that followed but with a new slant in
portrayals and the music. ÔThe Moko JumbiesÕ or (gaily dressed stilt
walkers) and ÔPierrotsÕ became scarce and are being replaced by characters
portraying historical personalities and exotic birds and animals. On the
other hand, the Dragons, Bats and Minstrel Bands are also replaced by
Ancient and Modern Historical Bands, and the inevitable ÔSailors on Shore
BandsÕ which augment a number every year ranging from three to eight
hundred members.
In 1958, another rung was added to the ladder of carnival, the organization
of carnival celebrations passed in to the hands of Government sponsored
Development Committee, (CDC) which instituted several categories into which
bands must be classified.
Prizes, including silver cups, shields, and cash totaling nearly 60
thousand dollars are donated to winning bands and best dressed masqueraders
in their respective categories. The Grand Stand at the Queens Park
Savannah, which is the headquarters for the parade of bands and the
miniature bleacher stands, are forced to increase their seating
accommodation each year to facilitate the large influx of visitors. A
remarkable aspect, is the new look, the new trends and the improvement of
the celebrations each year. Some endorsed statements ........... ÒWhat a
beautiful band!Ó ÒAh! hear that marvelous steel band!Ó ÒOoh la la, too
pretty, too pretty, this thing called carnival!Ó ÒMa Ma Mia, bonito,
bonito, carnival.Ó Incidentally carnival, calypso and the steelband were
equally considered as debased, a disguise to our streets and a Ôwretched
buffoonery disturbing the tranquillity of the town.Õ
Today this statement has not even the scintilla of truth about it, as what
was considered as debased, a public nuisance and wretched buffoonery has
developed in a colorful and fascinating spectacle of pomp and splendor
unparalleled anywhere in the world.

Taken from Felix RampersadÕs Carnival Calypso Spectacular

Anthony Maillard