The Caribbean is a region known not only for its sun, sand and sea, but its festivals. Also known as ‘Caribbean Carnival’, these festivals have spread to the diaspora. Oxford Dictionaries define carnival as, “a period of public revelry at a regular time each year, typically during the week before Lent in Roman Catholic countries, involving processions, music, dancing, and the use of masquerade.” The term and concept of ‘carnival’ originated in Italy, however, with the influence of African culture, carnivals in the Caribbean took on its own form. It can be understood that the modern carnival was born out of colonialism and eventually freedom. According to Julia Hewitt: "In the Caribbean, carnival as a mode of performing resistance, carries the memory of repression and sacrifice, but also of hope, in a sense of becoming other." It is believed that the first Caribbean festival started on the island of Trinidad and Tobago during the 18th century. From Trinidad and Tobago, the festival spread to other islands. Then infused with local cultures of that country to form its own unique ‘carnival’. In this essay, the evolution of three festivals in the Caribbean and its diaspora will be examined. These three festivals are Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival, New York’s Labor Day Carnival and London’s Notting Hill Carnival. Thus showing the growth and visibility of not only ‘carnival’ but Caribbean culture.
Many festivals in the Caribbean reflect the region’s strong history. As such, it holds ties to plantation life or religious beliefs. It started as a means to celebrate and enjoy life; to preserve cultural traditions, and reflect on cultural diversity. In the diaspora, it is a way to keep the connection between the Caribbean and the people abr...
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...trimental to their interests and provoked young blacks to pelt paraders with stones, cans and bottles. Such disruptions contributed to the cancellation of the Harlem festival.” Thus, showing that even abroad the Carnival wasn’t without its political adversaries. In the 1960s, Carlos Lezema who headed the association was granted permission to hold the festival in Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn. His daughter, Yolanda Lezama-Clark, now overlooks the festival as president.
Works Cited
"carnival: definition of carnival in Oxford dictionary ..." Insert Name of Site in Italics. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2014 .
Richard Scehner
Trinidad Carnival: The Cultural Politics of a Transnational Festival
http://www.nalis.gov.tt/Research/SubjectGuide/Carnival/tabid/105/Default.aspx?PageContentMode=1#80
Julia Hewitt
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societies to reexamine their view of the Caribbean. In this paper the following topics in The
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Harlem provided a source of entertainment for many people. With its Jazz Clubs and poetry readings it was the “hip” place to be. This was a shock to many African-American’s, who had never before had the opportunity to perform in such affluent surroundings. Oftentimes funding for these clubs or programs was provided by White Americans. This in itself was not a problem. However, the Harlem Renaissance became so dependant on the funding that when it stopped coming, there was no means by which to keep any of the clubs or literary cafes open. Some clubs in Harlem even discriminated against Black audience members. The popular Cotton Club, which featured solely Black performers, even went so far as to ban African-Americans’ from its audience entirely. Even in the Mecca of supposed racial equality, these sorts of discrimination were still prevalent. Advertisements for products produced by African-Americans were also skewed. Para...
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As I walk the streets of Bob Marley Avenue, also known as Church Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, I am greeted with the smell of jerk chicken. The community is laid out with stone brick buildings, previously occupied by the Jews in the early 1900s. Expats hear the reggae tunes through a huge speaker located on top of the stores that are owned by Jamaican expats. The auditory canal can hear the different dialects as the ear drum is plastered with the lyrics of Beres Hammond, a famous Jamaican singer. Everyone is excited about the upcoming concert that will be occurring at the Roy Wilkins Park in Queens. The excitement can be recognized through the facial expressions of Jamaican expats. The crowd that rushes out of the meat market with interest of telling their friends and family of a concert that only happens once a year. The Jamaica...
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Every country in the world has its own festival and celebration. People all around the world love joining together and sharing good time through the festivals and celebrations. Festivals are great way to experience local culture. Sometime they even offer a glimpse into past. There are hundreds of festivals across the world. So are you ready to experience of fun and colorful festivals? Below are some of festivals from Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.