St Kitts / Special Interests / Carnivals & Festivals

St Kitts' Carnival takes centre-stage in the island’s annual line-up of festivities, with its timing in December adding an extra dimension to the traditional Christmas celebrations. Another focal point is the island’s annual summer music festival.

Carnival - Carnival is the main cultural event of the year in St Kitts. Unlike most other carnivals in the region, it takes place in the lead-up to Christmas and into the New Year, so it ramps up the already-festive air in Basseterre a few more notches. Carnival is mainly a local event, but more visitors are becoming aware of the festivities. It also gives Kittitians living overseas twice the reason to return home and celebrate with family and friends.

The official launch of Carnival takes place with a grand gala and Junior Calypso show in mid-December. This is followed by the main calypso shows, a hotly-contended National Carnival Queen Pageant, street and beach parties, the crowning of a king and queen of carnival, and a mad Carnival J’ouvert jump-up. J’ouvert, pronounced jouvay, is held in Basseterre on Boxing Day and pulls in thousands of revellers who party well into the night and following morning. The culmination of the carnival is a New Year’s Day parade with troupes and bands, which all ends with Last Lap Jam on Carnival Day on 2 January.

Among the St Kitts carnival celebrations are more traditional ways of celebrating Christmas in which there are street displays by folklore groups, with song, dance, drama and poetry readings. The folklore groups have been performing for centuries and are pivotal to the celebrations. The colourful Clown Troupe is thought to be a legacy of a 17th Century French Governor. The Masquerade troupe of dancers were originally known as the Indians and they dress in colourful costumes with ribbons, bells and mirrors, with tall hats adorned with peacock feathers. The stilt-walking Mock or Moco Jumbies have their origins in West Africa (you may well also see them during festivals on other islands). Then there are the Mummies, who are thought to derive from the English tradition of Mumming, in which allegorical plays were performed in the streets. The Kittitian version is based around characters such as the Captain (also known as the Fool), the Giant, the Dragon and Saints George, Patrick and Andrew). It ends in a mock battle. There is also a comical street drama performed by a group of actors, known as The Bull. This drama relates to a 1920s tale, turned comic script, about an English planter’s stud bull turned wild. Much exaggerated over the years, it has become a full blown, well loved farce accompanied by the Big Drum Band, which uses traditional musical instruments. For more information please contact the National Carnival Committee, t 467 1539, info@stkittsfestivals.com, www.stkittsneviscarnival.com

St Kitts Music Festival - One of the high points on the St Kitts calendar, it is held in late June and attracts top international and regional musical acts. Past performers include Dionne Warwick, Michael Bolton, Billy Ocean, John Legend, Shaggy, Maxi Priest, Brenda Russell, Sean Paul, Air Supply and KC & the Sunshine Band.

Contributor: James Henderson (original author)