Our Carnival of Christmas
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Dictionary.com defines "carnival" as:
- 1) a traveling amusement show, having sideshows, rides, etc.
- 2) any merrymaking, revelry, or festival, as a programme of sports or entertainment
- 3) the season immediately preceding Lent, often observed with merrymaking; Shrovetide
Some words cited as related to "carnival" are: circus, fête, frolic, bacchanal, spree and conviviality.
A picture of the map of Trinidad and Tobago can be comfortably inserted next to the word "carnival." It means so much to us here that we spell it with a capital C: Carnival. And it is so much a part of our national psyche, regardless of what aspect of God we bend knee to (or how much some people protest its more prurient prospects), that it pervades across everything celebrated in our land.
That's why even our Christmas feels like Carnival home here. It's how we celebrate!
Over the next few days heading to the New Year, I'm going to highlight features of True Trinbago Christmas that bespeak the Carnival spirit of us and the dictionary definition of the word "carnival"; with cultural herbs, spices and pepper-sauce flung into the picture-show sancoche (thick, Trini soup made with legumes, root vegetables, dumplings, salted meat, coconut milk and "a variety of odds and ends," meant to satiate).
Enjoy and shine on
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| In Trinidad you'll find a giant Christmas Tree "cleverly crowning" the statue of a venerated local historical icon: Captain Arthur Andrew Cipriani. (Learn more, hit the link: NALIS Labour Day) I think the Captain might protest. |
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| Trini Christmas is all about collisions. What a way to meet the holiday head on. (Learn more, hit the link: sweettntmagazine) |
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| I've had the drink made from this extraordinary fruit every Christmas since I knew myself, but only this year learned there is red sorrel and black sorrel (in the bags). My favourite drink! 😋 |
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| Snow cone is enjoyed all year round, but at Christmas and Carnival, amid all the bustle under the effervescent sunshine and its accompanying heat, vendors like these pack the extra cups and make a cool killing. Plus, flagspotting! |
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| Crazy Santa is a Christmas tradition now. People put these huge blow-up Santa's in the strangest places, almost like on purpose. This big guy giving the stinky-eye (I've been nice, really! I just have naughty bits.) was sort of slapped against a nondescript wall out of the way, giving him a decidedly lurky air desperation. All photos by Jhaye-Q Baptiste  These photos are not for use, but if you want free to use, downloadable true Trini images, hit the link: https://www.pexels.com/@jhaye-q-trinbago-920300 |
