Carne Levare

Carnival was colorful costumes, loud music, and scorching heat. We had a fun party at the church on Monday and then went to the costume parade on Tuesday. Carnival here in Grenada is a strange blend of cultures, historical rituals, and just outright barbarism. But it was fun to catch a glimpse of the good parts.

A little history on Carnival here in Grenada...

Carnival comes from the Latin carne levare, which means "farewell to meat" and is held annually around the beginning of August and lasts 10 days. The tradition, some believed came from the French and Romans who pigged out on meat the day before Lent and then issuing a strict period of fasting. Between the 1st of the year and Lent, the French colonizers in Grenada would celebrate by hosting magnificent balls. The slaves who were of course unable to participate in the balls organized their own parties during the same time and because they didn't have the elaborate dresses of their owners, they put together costumes with what little they had. Today people decorate themselves in elaborate costumes, colorful paint, oil and chains. Apparently the oil and chains represents the time when their ancestors were enslaved to the colonizers here.

Here are some more pictures of the parade and our little church get together.