Carnaval
Carnival: Over-the- top and going strong
From its beginnings over fifty years ago with small street fairs in San Nicolas to the extravagance and spectacle of today, Carnival is far more than a parade – it is a fun-filled action-packed season and a carefree state-of-mind. It begins on November 11 at 11:11 am when the Prime Minister symbolically turns the country over to the Prince and Pancho, the comical duo that directs the exhilarating festivities and later restores order. Carnival formally ends at midnight on Shrove Tuesday before Good Friday with the burning of King Momo, an effigy that marks the end of the pre-Lenten activities. During the months in-between, a frenzy of exuberant activity absorbs the entire population. At-home costume production, well-orchestrated Carnival Queen elections, energizing music competitions and neighborhood jump-ups monopolize leisure hours. Carnivals are long remembered for their powerful music; winning songs include the best politically-charged calypso and the most compelling roadmarch, with catchy lyrics and easily followed gestures.
The two final weekends are the culmination of months of preparation. The campy 4 am Pajama Parade in San Nicolas attracts thousands of tireless funlovers; the Lighting Parade in Oranjestad is a twinkling nighttime extravaganza. Grand Parades shut down both cities. Under the blazing sun, marchers in resplendent twinkling, feathered and sequined regalia are joined by rolling creative road pieces and huge music machines on wheels. Impassable streets are lined with trailers and enraptured spectators. Rivalling that of Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans, Carnival is a thrilling show of over-the-top pageantry that unites and delights the country year after year.
