The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CARNIVAL IN GUADELOUPE

CARNIVAL IN GUADELOUPE IS VERY IMPORTANT AND WELL PREPARED. IT
STARTS ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR, AND EVERY SUNDAY THERE ARE
DOZENS OF GROUPS AND BANDS DANCING AND SINGING IN THE STEETS. THE
CARNIVAL REACHES ITS PEAK ON MARDI-GRAS. USUALLY, PEOPLE ARE
DRESSED WITH VIBRANT COLORS, AND ARE MASKED. THE CARNIVAL IS TAKEN
SERIOUSLY SINCE THERE IS A COMMITEE FOR THE CARNIVAL THAT
PREPARES IT VERY CAREFULLY. A QUEEN IS ELECTED FROM THE VARIOUS
CANDIDATES, BUT THE KING IS A FETISH MADE SPECIALLY FOR THE
OCCASION, AND HE IS CALLED "VAVAL". ON MERCREDI DES CENDRES
(ASH WEDNESDAY), PEOPLE ARE AGAIN DANCING AND SINGING IN THE
STREETS, BUT THIS TIME THEY ARE DRESSED IN BLACK AND WHITE,
SIGN OF MOURNING. THIS IS THE END OF THE CARNIVAL BECAUSE
"VAVAL" IS DEAD. AT SUN DOWN, THE FUNERAL OF "VAVAL" STARTS.
HE IS PUT IN A CANOE AND SENT IN THE SEA WHILE HE IS SET ON
FIRE, AND EVERY BODY WATCH THE SCENE. THEN COMES THE
MI-CAREME (MID SPRING), AND AGAIN PEOPLE ARE BACK IN THE
STREETS STILL IN BLACK AND WHITE. THEY DANCE AND SING ALL
DAY LONG, AND THEN LATE AT NIGHT, THEY PASS FOR THE VERY
LAST TIME IN THE STREETS, CARRYING BROOMS AND SWEEPING THE ROAD
BEHIND THEM. THEY ARE SWEEPING OFF THE TRACE OF THE CARNIVAL.
NOW THE CARNIVAL IS OVER. SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR!

Submitter comment: IN THE ESCLAVAGIST PERIOD, SLAVES AND MASTERS USED TO EXCHANGE
ROLES ONCE A YEAR, AND THE SLAVES USED TO HAVE THEIR MASTERS
DO WHATEVER THEY WANTED THEM TO DO. BUT THE SLAVES USED TO WEAR
MASKS SO THAT THEY COULDN'T BE RECOGNIZED AND PUNISHED LATER,
THIS IS WHY PEOPLE WEAR MASKS ON CARNIVAL. CARNIVAL THEREFORE,
COMMEMORATES THIS PERIOD IN THE ESCLAVAGIST TIMES.

Where learned: GUADELOUPE

Date learned: 00001960S