It wasn't until I was much older that I was allowed to participate in Carnival and those of you who know about growing up in a Caribbean household will understand how strict our parents can be. Although I was raised in Britain, my upbringing was everything but British, and I often joke that when you entered my house you were in fact entering the island of Barbados. The one thing that has always stood out is the love my family has for their homeland and the culture.
Although I did not participate in a carnival until I was in my early teens, my love affair with carnival began when I was a mere five years old, to be exact my love of the Crop Over festival in Barbados. I remember the excitement from my family when they spoke about "de festival" and I sat in wonderment listening to them reciting the latest songs and events they would be attending. Then I witnessed it, the festival in all of its glory, the decorated carts, the costumes, Bridgetown Market and the masquerade bands parading through the National Stadium. I heard the music, I saw the joy of the masqueraders and the revelry of the crowd and I was hooked.
One thing that has always struck me about Caribbean carnivals, is the overt display of body confidence on show from the revellers especially the women. There isn't a body type or size that isn't represented in the festivals. I am not a slim woman by any standard and I can truly say that I've never really been overly self conscious about wearing a carnival costume and parading through the streets and this is because I know that there are plenty of women who look just like me in a costume too. It's not that people aren't aware of their size when playing mas, it's more that they don't care and if you have a problem then oh well.
The fact that you can be transformed into whatever you want is really appealing to me especially when you may be judged on a daily basis about your appearance. It's the one time of year that you can let loose and say to hell with it and don a bedazzled masterpiece and just have some unadulterated fun. Caribbean women have a particular essence about them that is hard to put into words and you will often hear the phrase "carnival is woman" and I have to say I agree. It is extremely refreshing to see how confident and empowered the women are and there is a lot that can be learnt from this. I am not saying that this is solely the result of carnival, but the psychological affect on body confidence is undeniable.
Do I think the costumes are skimpy or course yes, do people dance in a manner that might seem vulgar to some , yes, and are the fetes (parties) crazy and wild, at times yes but the take home is that you need to educate yourself about the history of carnival before judging. If the idea of wearing a carnival costume fills you with dread, remember there is something for everyone, you don't have to wear a bikini if you're not comfortable. Research the mas bands and find something that suits you because it is about fun not fear.
My love for carnival is about more than the beautiful costumes, it's about the people and the melting pot of different cultures colliding into complex yet invigorating festivals of music, food and the arts around the Caribbean and further afield. Despite the changes over the years, I am still in love with Caribbean carnivals and of course Crop Over because it embodies my cultural heritage; the stories, the folklore, the music and the drama. It showcases the best of the Caribbean, the beauty of the people and the confidence of our women and I for one will forever be in awe of it.
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