Brief History of Caribbean Carnival
On a worldwide basis, Carnival has been around for centuries. It has traditionally provided a wonderful way for people to celebrate everything from nature, harvest and fertility to the struggle for freedom and expression. People often associate Carnival with that of Trinidad and Tobago, but that itself has been influenced by the styles and cultures of other continents, which have found their way to the Caribbean.
The origins of Carnival can be traced right back to pre-Roman times, when it was all decidedly Pagan. In time, Christianity took over and influenced the celebrations. Throughout history, Carnival has been subtly changing and modifying as it was integrated into different cultures and taken to different countries.
Italy played a major part in the 16th Century with the introduction of masquerade balls, lavishly decorated floats, and the art of character portrayal by actors. The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival was instigated by French settlers who brought it to the Islands from Europe.
The enslaved West African people who were brought across were forbidden to take part, but they went on to create their own version in the backyards of plantation houses. These developments enveloped Carnival with African culture as well as taking on aspects of French settlers’ celebrations. Following emancipation, an Asian dimension to Carnival was introduced, when workers from the Indian sub-continent were brought to the Caribbean Islands, as an indentured labor force.
Carnival traditions from the Caribbean, South America, Europe and South-East Asia are incorporated and represented in Carnivals all over the world, as the events now envelop the cultures and communities of its respective regions and continue to develop and evolve.
(Source: http://www.luton.gov.uk/enjoying/carnivalsite/pages/102388.html)
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