J'Ouvert Monday August 13th, 2012

J'Ouvert Photo Gallery 2011 Carnival Monday & Tuesday Results 2011 Inaugural Traditional Mas Competition a Huge Success

Many revellers begin their Carnival marathon at the Dimarche Gras Show and continue straight into the J’Ouvert celebrations, where in the early hours of Monday morning,

"...the traditional Jab-Jab or Devil Mas bands emerge from the darkness of the night to parade freely through the town."

Blackened with stale molasses, tar, grease, creosote or mud, and wearing little more than their horned helmets, these masqueraders in previous times set out to terrify onlookers with their grotesque appearance and repulsive dances.

In modern times, the traditional Jab-Molassi have mutated into other creatures of colour, with Blue, Yellow and Green Devils joining in the early morning parade. These colourful devils are much more playful in character, wanting only to dab a bit of their body paint onto unsuspecting bystanders, as they dance through the streets to the rhythms of the accompanying drums, steel bands and calypsos from huge DJ trucks. 

The Ole Mas bands are the only other inhabitants in the early morning, bringing international and local events to the fore through their double entendre (or double talk) placards and satirical costumes.

Pageant Mas Monday August 13th, 2012

Parade of the Bands Photo Gallery 2011 Pageant Mas Photo Gallery 2011 Carnival Monday & Tuesday Results 2011 Spicemas 2011 Fancy Mas Bands

The Carnival devils disappear with the rising of the sun, making way for the Traditional and Fancy Mas bands in the Monday parade or Pageant.

Each parish has its own brand of traditional mas usually represented by Short Knees, Vekou and Wild Indians.

With Arab-like head coverings, jumbo collars, batwing sleeves and three-quarter (short knee) baggy trousers, the Short knee Bands are now the most prevalent of the traditional masqueraders. Almost identical in appearance, they dance through the roads from their respective villages, into the town of St. George’s, passionately chanting, boxing the air and scattering baby powder with abandon.

Next come the modern costumed bands of revellers, who cross the stage at the National Stadium and then parade through the streets of the capital city of St. George’s in the afternoon sun, gyrating to the beat of the year’s most popular calypsos. Listen out for the song most played throughout the day, as this is the basis for the Annual Road March King Competition. Costumed bands are often heralded by the arrival of the King and Queen of the band, the large costumes which vied for King and Queen of Carnival during the Sunday night Dimarche Gras.

Monday Night Mas Monday August 13th, 2012

Monday Night Mas 2011 Carnival Monday & Tuesday Results 2011

Carnival Monday ends with the Monday Night Mas' street jump-up, where party goers in brightly coloured T-shirt bands, wave fluorescent wands and dance through the streets into the wee hours of the Tuesday morning.