Alicia Roache, Staff Reporter
CARNIVAL, WHEN it first originated in Italy years ago, held religious significance. But its adoption by countries around the world and its gradual evolution has changed the face and fashion of Carnival in many ways.
Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago; the carnival capital of the world, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and indeed many countries around the world, is keen on self-expression and artistic creativity. But that evolution and adoption has resulted in a kind of degeneration of the pomp and pageantry; the artistic brilliance that goes into the creation of the outfits has been tempered in Jamaica and in many countries around the world.
That evolution and what it represents continues and is reflected in the relative decline in the beauty, artwork and symbolism associated with the creation of the costumes.
Carnival in the Caribbean began in Trinidad and Tobago, when the French settlers began to arrive in 1785. Fancy balls were held, where the wealthy planters adorned themselves in "masks, wigs and beautiful dresses." According to carnivalpower.com, "The use of masks had special meaning for the slaves, because for many African peoples masking is widely used in their rituals for the dead. Obviously banned from the masked balls of the French, the slaves would hold their own little carnivals in their backyards, using their own rituals and folklore."
"Feathers were frequently used by Africans in their motherland on masks and head-dresses as a symbol of our ability as humans to rise above problems, pains, heartbreaks, illnesses and to travel to another world to be reborn and to grow spiritually."
Today, feathers may be the only remaining symbol of the meaning of the celebration.
Since the early settlers, however, the costumes have evolved into a more grand and elaborate representation of history, cultures, people and society.
According to bbc.co.uk., as carnival developed, so did a colourful cast of characters the devil, bandits, clowns and giants on stilts called 'Moko Jumbies'.
Moko Jumbie is a traditional folk character originally brought from West Africa. Moko is derived from the name of a West African God; the word jumbie (which means ghost) was added later on. The Moko walks on stilts and are brightly painted. This character dances through the streets collecting money from spectators.
ROOTS OF FANCY INDIAN
Another character which is popular in carnival costume parades is the 'Fancy Indian'. The Fancy Indian is based on the indigenous peoples of North America and is among the most extravagant carnival costumes. The headpiece is built on to a wire frame and strapped to the body of the person wearing the costume. The 'wigwam' is made with ostrich plumes, mirrors, beads, feathers, papier mâché masks, totem poles and ribbons.
Of course, there are costumes which represent ideas that inhabit the mind of the artist. These costumes, usually larger and more difficult to make, require huge frames and are created by bending wire, then covering it with papier mâché, foam and other materials. After all this, the costume must still be able to move and withstand the dance without falling apart, a feat that is accomplished by only the most skilled artists and creators. The result is usually a wonder to behold.
Peter Minshall, one of the most acclaimed of such costume artists, once noted that such 'dancing mobiles' are 'one of many forms to grow out of the masquerade tradition of Trinidad Carnival'. These costumes, as one can imagine, require months of effort and planning, as well as lots of money, to complete.
Of course, part of the attraction of carnival involved the competition for the King and Queen of the parade. It was enough to inspire persons to begin preparing for the next carnival the minute the current one was done and to send legions of eager revellers to the gym in preparation of the ultimate stamina test of carnival day.
Some of that has changed. Of course, many still go to the gym, but the aim is no longer to outdo your competitors on carnival day because, in Jamaica, the parade is simply about having fun. Previously, the cost of the elaborate costumes meant that lower income earners were effectively excluded from participating in the pageantry, being relegated to onlookers because they simply could not afford to be a member of a carnival band.
With carnival getting more popular, the efforts to include more of the masses also meant making costumes more accessible, hence cheaper and less extravagant.
Today, carnival costumes in Jamaica have been reduced to the bare minimum. There will be a few costumes in the road parade, cheaper and less extravagant, bands will not compete for bragging rights and no King or Queen of Carnival will be crowned. Carnival will simply be a display, far removed from the excitement and anticipation and symbolism that a 'real' carnival should generate.
Carnival, it has sadly and precipitously descended to a mere 'celebration of the flesh' and the costumes or lack thereof is a fitting example of this fact.
