Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine January 2018 | Page 292

GUADELOUPE
CARNIVAL
Carnival is tied to the Catholic calendar, occuring over
a two month period starting with the first Sunday
of the Epiphany in January, and ending on Ash
Wednesday, when an effigy of the king of carnival,
“Vaval”, is burnt in front of a crowd and thrown into
the sea.
On the last culminating days of Carnival - Shrove
Sunday, Shrove Monday, Shrove Tuesday and Ash
Wednesday, specific events are held on each of those
days.
Photo Credit: Mstyslav Chernov
On Shrove Sunday, Pointe-a-Pitre is where you
should be. In addition to the music competitions
and costumed revelers, the King of Carnival, “Vaval”
also makes an appearance during the Grand Parade,
which consists of pulsating music and colourful
masqueraders.
Shrove Monday sees various cultural and historical
depictions, including a pyjama parade and couples
disguising themselves - the man as the bride and
the woman as the groom, during the “Marriage
Burlesque”.
Shrove Tuesday is the day for a Grand Parade in
Basse-Terre where carnival bands will be judged for
the best in various categories.
Photo Credit: Guillaume
Ash Wednesday ends the carnival season. Everyone
dresses in black and white and joins the carnival
jump-up with the bands. The King of Carnival is burnt
which signals the end of the festivities.