balance on your costume before 31st January, 2007. Using this facility allows you the masquerader the ability to forego the payment queue at our Distribution Center and head straight to the Fas Trak costume collection line which is fast and convenient.
14/11/06
History of Trinidad Carnival.
Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago is French in origin; it was brought to Trinidad with the French Settlers and their slaves after 1783. The upper classes usually celebrated the festival by disguising themselves in masks at elaborate balls, which were held at the homes of prominent members of society. The slaves and free coloureds also celebrated Carnival in their own way by imitating their owners dress in exaggerated forms an excellent example of this is the Dame Lorraine. The Dame Lorraine and other characters such as the Jab Molassie, Jab Jab and Peirrot were just some of the characters born from the slaves mimicking their owners. Their celebration usually incorporated African practices, their drums and dances, men and women gyrated their bodies to the beat of the drums, which is what we know today as “wining.”
After Emancipation free slaves participated in the festivities in greater numbers, which during this period took over the streets of Port-of-Spain. These former slaves formed bands in barrack yards where they lived and took to the streets in organized bands as this was a time of revelry, a chance to escape the drudgery in which they were forced to live . These Mas Bands (derived from the word masquerade), consisted of the Chantwelle (singers), prostitutes, drummers, dancers, stickmen, pimps and “badjohns” in general. They were considered to be the lower classes of society, the “Jamet,” class.
During the 19th Century the Carnival street parade was regarded as, “ a reversal of all the values and judgments of respectable society.” 1 Prostitutes in traditional Martinique dress roamed the streets making indecent gestures, singing lewd songs and sometimes even exposing their breasts to spectators, men and women. Masked men portrayed themselves as women dressed in transparent nightgowns and carried menstrual cloths stained with blood this was done to represent the Pisenlit or wet the bed character. Today this character has evolved into a significantly tamer form in that of the Jab Molassie.
Many view Carnival of today to be a time when masqueraders and spectators alike participate in obscene and lewd behavior. Some have even suggested that within the last decade this annual festival has degenerated to a decadent display of immoral behavior. As we have seen from our glimpse into the history of Carnival, the festival has become somewhat more socially acceptable in comparison to what it was.
17/10/06
Island People Mas introduces TAN LINES
Hey!!!.... ya know that annoying tan line you get after wearing your costume on Carnival Monday and Tuesday? Guess what, Island People Mas is asking you to send us a picture of your tan and some interesting lines on how you got it. We will choose the 10 best entries and reward you for being proud of your tan lines.
...Stay tuned for more information.
17/10/06
The initial costume USD prices that were posted on our website were inaccurate as they were calculated using the wrong USD exchange rate. If you have made your payment before 16th October 2006 your registration will be completed using the initial USD prices posted.
Any payments made after 16th October 2006 must be in the amount of the currently posted USD prices. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. |
