Guadalupe Carnival

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What is the Carnival of Guadeloupe?

Guadeloupe Carnival is a great colorful celebration that takes place on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. Carnival celebrations are an important cultural event on the island, as they are related to the identity characteristics of the inhabitants. The celebration is a wild season full of music, costumes and lots of food.

Carnivals in Guadeloupe is a wonderful celebration that has been going on for more than a century, so the festival has deeply permeated theidentity and traditions of all the people of this enchanting Caribbean island. The festivities are looked forward to by both children and adults, as it is a great moment of fun and spectacle.

Carnival festivities in Guadeloupe are a special event the island. Usually, the festivities have a greatsense of tradition, but as the days go by, the carnivals are gaining more and more strength. Carnival celebrations do not distinguish between race or social sector, everyone is welcome to celebrate the most joyous festivities of the year with colorful costumes, lively music, carriages and parades.

Although carnivals are originally a European tradition, the festivities were brought to the islanders through the colonists. However, the carnival has acquired wonderful cultural nuances that have turned the festivities into a one-of-a-kind celebration. Everything is celebration during the carnivals, from the singing and dance contests, through the queen’s election to the parades with dozens of costumed characters in traditional garments.

 

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When is the Carnival of Guadeloupe?

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Carnivals on the island of Guadeloupe are officially held between the month of February and the month of March, since this is when the celebrations take place with much more force. However, the islanders perform some carnival ceremonies from the first of January until the day the carnival ends, that is to say, Ash Wednesday.

Carnival on the island of Guadeloupe will officially begin approximately from January 1 to February 17.

 

 

History of the Carnivals of Guadeloupe

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Carnival is traditionally a European celebration, specifically from ancient Rome. However, it managed to expand first to the central region of Europe, so it was a matter of time before it reached the rest of the continent. Carnivals were initially a big celebration that allowed people to consume large amounts of food before the fasting of Christian Lent. However, the events began to spiral out of control and became a time of massive uncontrol.

Carnivals began to function as an exhaust valve for the bulk of the population, allowing people to break the routine and celebrate for a few days. Due to their immoral nature, carnivals were heavily censored, but this did not stop them from being celebrated. The church was one of the entities that disagreed with the carnivals, so they did everything possible to put an end to them. Their efforts did not bear fruit and they opted to absorb the carnivals.

With the process of colonization towards various regions of Latin America and the Caribbean, the tradition of European carnivals managed to reach every corner of the other side of the hemisphere. Carnival arrived in Guadeloupe in the 17th century with the European settlers. Carnivals were celebrated on the island with some masked dances organized exclusively for white settlers and free blacks. As for the slaves, they were not allowed to participate and were even forbidden to gather in large groups.

After the abolition of slavery in the year 1848, the islanders began to take ownership of the traditions left by the colonists, so they decided to hold some dances and parades. By the mid-19th century, only wealthy people participated in the parade of floats onMardi Gras, while the humblest people participated in the street celebrations. Today, the Guadeloupe Carnival is a vehicle of cultural expression of the island, welcoming thousands of people every year.

 

Where is the Guadeloupe Carnival?

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Carnivals are held on the island of Guadeloupe, a small archipelago of the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. Theisland of Guadeloupe is an overseas region of France, and is therefore considered an ultraperipheral region of the European Union..

 

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How is the Carnival of Guadeloupe celebrated?

Carnival in Guadeloupe is a long and rich celebration that begins on January 1st. The streets of Guadeloupe are filled with diverse cultural manifestations from beginning to end. From the first days of January there are paradesmainly on weekends until well into February, when the official carnival festivities begin to take place. Parades and dances are some of the most important elements of the carnival festivities.

In the carnivals there are some groups that are worth highlighting, since they are the ones who perform commemorative parades. These cultural groups that are in charge of maintaining and developing the carnival festivities on the island. These groups carry costumes and masks quite peculiar.

 

Figures

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Mass a lan-mò

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These are characters who participate in the parades. Theyhave their faces painted white and carry with them a kind of skin masks. In addition, during the parade they raise roars and prick people with pins.

 

Mass a konn

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They symbolize bulls. Theirclothes are red and they wear a large animal skull with horns.

 

Mass a fwet

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The characters wearclothes of rags and have a large whip which they strike against the ground generating a great roar. They symbolize virility and fertility.

 

Mass a miwa

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It is a character dressed in colorful fabrics and carries a mask with mirror fragments. It symbolizes the Indians.

 

Mass a kongo

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These characters wear country clothes. They cover their bodies with black ink, but their red lips stand out. They represent the slaves.

 

Carnival groups

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Group en Po or les groupes à peau

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This is a group that began to emerge in the late 1970s and features large animal skin drums anddecorated with shells and other elements. The costumes reflect for of the history of Guadalupe and are one of the groups with the largest number of participants in the entire carnival.

 

Les groupes de ti mas

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Groups composed mainly of young people who use steel rattles as percussion instruments. Usually, these groups are completely masked and perform acrobatics to express themselves in the streets. They also mix some elements of modernity with carnivals and have been growing and proliferating rapidly.

 

Les groupes à caisses claires

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It is a large group of people who stand out for percussion performances and their dancers. The costumes are similar to the traditional samba or Bandas Mas. In addition, they have carrozas, one of the main differences among the rest of the groups.

 

Les groupes de synthé

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This is a group of people who have electric instruments or synthesizers and guitars. This type of group has proliferated especially in the capital and larger cities.

 

Election of the Royal Court

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The election of theroyal court takes place every year and candidates fight for the title of winner. Each year, the participants parade one by one before a panel of jurors.

Carnival Queens are divided between High School Carnival Queen, Queen,King of the commune and Departmental Queen.

 

Burning of the Vaval King

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The burning of theVaval King is one of the closing ceremonies of the carnival. It consists of the burning of an effigy made of vegetable materials such as wood or straw. Generally, its figure holds a religious, political and social significance.

People burn the king on Cinder Wednesday so that he can revive again next year and start the carnival party again.

 

Tips to go to the Carnivals of Guadeloupe

If you wish to attend the carnivals in Guadeloupe, we recommend planning your trip in advance, making an itinerary of activities and booking your preferred lodging in advance. Also, be sure to pack comfortable clothes so you can fully enjoy your carnivals.

During carnivals the temperature is somewhat high on the island, so we recommend you stay hydrated and apply sunscreen frequently. If possible, use an umbrella to protect yourself from the sun or place yourself in the shade.

 

Events in Guadeloupe Carnival

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The events that take place in the Carnival of Guadeloupe are well marked in its schedule. The first Carnival ceremonies begin in January and are gradually extended until the last 3 days before Christian Lent. The events feature specific celebrations, including costumes and traditional masks on certain dates.

 

Ben demaré

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This ceremony takes placeon January 1 and features a parade led by the groupes à peau. The parade comprises an offering to the sea. During the event, a sort of transition of leaving behind the bad issues of the past year and allowing new and better experiences. After this day, parades are held constantly, especially on weekends.

 

Carnival Sunday

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Shrove Sunday takes place in Pointe-à-Pitre, a commune in Guadeloupe. During this day, abig parade is held, which starts late in the afternoon and may end late at night. In addition, there are competitions of music and partying. The streets are filled with dozens of masked people and jesters. The groups also perform the procession, while some people crack loudly whip against the ground.

During the day also takes place the parade of queens, which are accompanied by the appearance of King Vaval, effigy that will be burned at the end of the festivities.

 

Monday of Canaval

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During this day, a folklore parade is held in the commune of Basse-Terre, early in the morning. This parade is eye-catching, as people participate in the parade wearing pajamas.

During the evening, agreat night parade is also held in the commune of Basse-Terre and Saint-François, where a light parade and a choreography competition are held respectively. In addition, during this day the “boda burlesca” takes place, which consists of wedding ceremonies where couples dress up in costumes. The women wear suits and the men dresses.

 

Carnival Tuesday

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It is one of the most awaited days of the year. During the day the costume and float competition takes place, which focuses on a certain theme. All the groups take to the streets to party. While some groups occupy the streets with carriages, others walk on foot.

 

Cinder Wednesday

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It is one of the most special days of the festivities, as it marks theend of the carnivals. During this day everyone wears black and white garments. During the afternoon, almost into the night, preparations begin for the creation or burning of King Vaval. A few moments before the whole event, people begin to sob, mourning the death of the king. Then, the king is burned and several people begin to dance.

 

Middle Lent Thursday

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It is one of the most peculiar elements of the festivities of the Carnival of Guadalupe. During this day, the carnivals are “revived” and you can find thousands of people in the streets wearing red and black garments to symbolize the demons.

 

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Guadeloupe Carnival Parades

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The main parades of the Guadalupe Carnival take place in thelast three days before the beginning of Christian Lent. The enthusiasm of the festivities grows more and more as the days go by, with Tuesday of Carnival being the day with the most energy. The parades are dominated by boththemed costumes and traditional costumes of the island. In addition, the parades feature main characters who perform certain actions such as molesting spectators or cracking large whips against the ground.

During the Tuesday of Carnaval, a large parade with floats takes place. Musicians and bands also attend and are the ones who enliven the whole celebration with percussion instruments or synthesizers. The parades in the Carnival of Guadalupe are one of the most special elements of the festivities, as they have a deep sense of identity.

 

Parade route

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Although some of the main festivities take place in better known communes such as Basse-Terre and Saint-François, the carnival celebrations on the island of Guadeloupe take place in every corner of the island.

 

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What to eat at the Carnival of Guadeloupe[/h2>?

The island of Guadeloupe has not only adopted the traditions of carnival, but you can also find small dishes and typical French sweets. One of the typical sweets during Carnival dates is the beignet. The Beignet are doughnuts made with sugar, wheat flour, butter and milk that are fried in abundant oil. Once finished, they are covered with powdered sugar.

One of the traditional snacks of the island are the buñuelos. These can be either cod or vegetables. Cod fritters are made with mashed potatoes, cod, eggs and fresh herbs. All the ingredients are mixed together and then fried in plenty of oil. The fritters can be eaten alone or accompanied by a sauce.

In addition, Basse-Terre offers a variety of places you can visit to expand your gastronomic experience on the island. Some of the best known are: Le Poisson Rouge, O Z’Epices, La Belle Chaudiere, Chez Olivier, L’Eddy’s Papillon, Le Papillon Restaurant, La Table Creole, Parc Aquacole, La Savane and La Touna..

 

 

What to see and do inside the Guadeloupe Carnival

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Once you find yourself inside the carnivals, you will be able to live one of the most magical and mysterious experiences of the island. The celebrations with much more energy and enthusiasm begin from Sunday of Carnival. During these three days there are 3 large parades with the participation of the main characters and groups of the festivities. In addition, the musicians, both percussionists and synthesizerss, perform some shows for the entertainment of the masses.

The carrozas are also part of the celebrations, so you can’t miss the parade on Shrove Tuesday, as this is when they make their greatest presence. On the last day of the festivities; that is, on Cinder Wednesday, a great closing ceremony of the festivities takes place: The cremation of King Vaval. This figure is burned during Cinder Wednesday so that the king can “revive” and appear again on the first day of next year’s carnivals.

 

What to see and do outside the Carnivals of Guadeloupe

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The island of Guadeloupe offers you a lot of tourist attractions that you can visit during your stay in the carnivals during the month of February.

Jardin botanique de Deshaies

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This is a botanical garden in Deshaies, which belonged to the comedian Coluche during the years 1979 and 1986. After his death, Michel Gaillard bought the property with the idea of creating a botanical garden, which began operations in 2001. Within the grounds you can find more than 1,000 different species of plants.

 

Parc des Mamelles

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This is a large zoo covering 4 hectares of area in the rainforest. Its purpose is to preserve rare species of animals along with endangered species of extension. The zoo has more than 85 species typical of the Caribbean and Guyana.

 

Carbet Waterfall

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This is a series of waterfalls on the Carbet River. The whole attraction is composed of 3 waterfalls in the middle of the tropical forest near the La Soufrière Volcano. The waterfalls have a drop of more than 125 meters and is one of the most popular attractions on the island, receiving about 400,000 people a year.

 

Weather at the Carnival of Guadeloupe

 

During the carnival celebrations in Guadeloupe, the weather can be somewhat hot, with temperatures ranging between 20 and 29 degrees Celsius. We recommend staying hydrated and applying sunscreen whenever your skin needs it. Be sure to pack light clothing so you can move freely during the carnival.

 

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How to get to Guadeloupe Carnival

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The closest and best-connected airport to Basse-Terre is Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport, which receives a good number of flights, specifically from Canada, France and the United States. Once here, you can make use of the various means of transportation to reach the city center.

 

How to get there by bus

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From the airport you can take a bus to Lycée Providence Guadeloupe. Once there, walk about 15 minutes to Les Abyme then take a bus to Pointe-á-Pitre. Then take a bus again to Vernou. In Vernou take a cab or car to Basse-Terre..

 

How to get there by car

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From the airport you can take the N1 road to Basse-Terre. The drive is almost an hour.

If you take a cab, the taxi fare ranges from US$120 to US$150.