Spectacular Costumes: All photos taken during Pretty Mas & The Parade of Bands |
Luckily,
we spotted a wall, sheltered by a shady tree, to sit on, then waited – even
island time slows down for Mas.
Eventually, stragglers from the previous day’s events filled the streets
and before too long, a Chinese Dragon heralded the start of
this hedonistic parade. Lots of music, feathers, sequins, flesh and alcohol.
Carnival
is not a brief affair; it lingers, happily over many, many months. Lots of fetes (fay-tays) or partying,
drinking locally made beer & rum, making (LOUD) music, liming (more
partying) and having fun. Some of the
events we had already missed were the Panorama (steel pan bands performing
competitively), Dimanche Gras (Soca & Calypso competitions) and Canboulay
(local celebrations). We visitors had
the option to attend one or all of Spicemas’s main events. One was enough for us. The main Spicemas program included:
J’ouvert Morning.
Day 1. Starting around 3am, this morning
parade offers lashings of oil, paint, chocolate, molasses, alcohol and sequins whilst
dancing to some head-splitting Caribbean music.
Huge boom boxes on the back of semi-trailers belt out the local SoCa
vibe. Revellers in sparse but elaborate
costumes, make dance moves your mother would not approve. Locals call this event Jab Jab. Jab Mas has its roots in pagan traditions and
is about playing the devil and mocking fancy costume parties (Mardi Gras) attended
by elites back in the days of slavery.
Today, the parade is a contest of bands and their exotically dressed (to
a theme) followers. The most popular in
the parade are the theatrical jab jabs who coat themselves in motor oil (don’t
forget to coat yourself in Vaseline first!), paint their tongue red, wear a horned helmet and perhaps,
for an added touch of bizarre, decorate with a bleeding animal tongue or whole octopus.
Night Mas. Day 1.
A Street Party follows J’ouvert (obviously to assist with recovery) with
the same loud SoCa (Soul Calypso) music and a show of flashing lights. Apparently, it gets going about 9pm. Still lots more oil, coloured powder, alcohol
and partying.
Pretty Mas & Parade of the Bands. Day 2. Starting at 4pm in the cooler evening, Pretty Mas features bands and exotic costumes, wild colours, and even wilder dance moves. The parade loops along the main road that follows the bend of the Carenage. We had hoped to see a showing of steel drums too! Blame the overcast weather? So, sadly missed out.
Rain threatened but didn’t eventuate. Our ear drums will never be the same. Also dance move called “twerking” might cause many grandmothers to faint. It’s a wonder those scant costumes stayed in place. It was a warm evening; drink was flowing and music pumping. Pure bacchanalian.
So, we fixed it (well, our amazing mechanic Mr Lozza did), and then, we prepped for yet another early start next morning. And so, leave Grenada we did! Just for a change, the weather gods took pity on us, and the Motley Crew left for destination Chaguaramas. In excellent sailing conditions!
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