MAS - Trinidad & Tobago
French Catholic settlers introduced carnival to Trinidad and Tobago in the late 18th Century and persuaded the local British colonizers to join them in carrying out elegant balls and fanciful masquerades. Enslaved Africans brought to work on the plantations were emancipated in the early 19th century and soon embraced the festival as a symbolic rite of liberation. Today Carnival in Port of Spain is known as Mas, an abbreviation for mask or masquerade.
The celebration begins at 2:00am with J'ouvert a tradition of playing in mud and involves participants known as Jab Jabs covering themselves, and other from head to toe in paint, chocolate, mud, white powder or anything for that matter. It is a tradition that no one is clean, and a common site to see a newcomer being hugged by muddy revelers.
As the sun rises, procession begin pass through the streets. There are large and small groups, as well as individuals, that play traditional mas, donning the many masquerades that evolved in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from a variety of cultural traditions drawn from France, England, the United States, and West Africa such as the Dame Lorraine, Moko Jumbie, Pierrot Grenade, Burrokeet and Sailor Mas.
The Dame Lorraine is an imitation of the 18th and early 19th century French planters who would dress up in elegant costumes of the French aristocracy. The liberated slaves recreated these costumes - complete with elaborate fans and hats - in their own fashion, using materials that were readily available, such as assorted rags and imitative jewellery-type items, while and exaggerating the physical characteristics,
The Moko Jumbie is an African masquerade mounted on sticks. The stilt walker plays on stilts 10 to 12 feet high. His costume consists of a brightly colored skirt or pants, jacket and elaborate hat. He dances through the streets all day, and collects money from people on the upper floors and balconies. His dance was similar to a jig, and he was often accompanied by a drum, flute and triangle.
The Pierrot Grenade is a character that projects a scholarly air, but instead of an elegant costume, he wears rags. His gown consists of crocus bag (burlap), on which strips of colored cloth, small tins containing pebbles, and small boxes that rattle, are attached. He may wear a hat or a colored head tie on his head, and his face is covered with a grotesque mask. The mask provides anonymity for someone who delights in making pointed comments on "respectable" members of the community.
The Burrokeet, derived from the Spanish word burroquito (little donkey), is a masquerade comprised of a well decorated donkey's head made from colored paper. This head is attached to a bamboo framework. The masquerader enters through a hole at the back of the donkey's neck and carries the reins in his hands, thereby creating the illusion that he is its rider. The body of the donkey is covered in a long skirt satin skirt with a sisal tail, sometimes decorated with flowers. The rider wears a satin skirt and a large matador straw hat and dances in a way that mimics the antics of a donkey. He also performs a dance called Burriquite, which originated in Venezuela.
The Bookman, also referred to as the Gownman or Ruler, is a feature of devil mas portrayals. The bookman's costume consists of a richly embroidered gown made of velvet and satin and a flowing cape festooned with biblical scenes. On his head is an oversized head mask which contains small horns and carries a demonic expression. The face of this mask is supposed to mirror the face of the devil himself. The bookman carries a pen and a large book in which he write the names of prospective souls for the devil.
The Sailor Mas was introduced in the 1880s when British, French and American naval ships came to Trinidad. There are several variations on the sailor mas including Free French Sailor, King Sailor, and Fancy Sailor. The Fancy Sailor was an off-shoot of the King Sailor. The fancy sailor costume consists of papier-mâché headpieces, decorated and painted to look like bird, animals or plants. The sailor outfit is decorated with ribbons, medals, braiding, swans down and other embellishments to match the headpieces.
One of the most important events in Port of Spain is the King and Queen competition, held on an outdoor stage on Dimanche Gras, (French for Fat Sunday.) Most of the organized carnival groups present a King and Queen who dance across the stage dressed in large elaborate costumes portraying aspects of the group's annual theme. The winner is declared the King of Carnival.RESOURCES
More information on Mas in Trinidad and Tobago
AYS enriches the learning and well-being of children in a safe, caring and fun environment outside of the school day. To learn more about AYS please visit www.ayskids.org.
AYS, Inc.
4755 Kingsway Drive, Suite 300
Indianapolis, IN 46205
(317) 283-3817