Jasmine Spaulding Special to the Chronicle
“Mardi Gras,” “Fastelavn,” “Kanaval,” “Junkanoo,” “Crop Over,” and “Bacchanal,” are terms from around the world for the annual festival commonly known as “Carnival.”
Carnival is a public celebration – usually within a five-day span – where participants of all ages indulge in parades, band performances, circus-like events, great food, elaborate hand-made costumes, folk dance and, most of all, fun. The Carnival tradition has European roots dating back hundreds of years to the followers of Catholicism in Italy, who started the tradition of costume festivals before the first day of Lent. Because Catholics are not allowed to eat meat during Lent, the festival was called "Carnivale" which means "to put away the meat." The tradition quickly spread throughout Europe and later throughout the African Diaspora due to the slave trade and European colonization.
According to the “Guinness Book of World Records,” Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival in Brazil is the largest festival in the world, attracting approximately 2 million people each day. As part of an effort to spread awareness of the cultural tradition, students from Hofstra’s Black Student Union and the African Caribbean Society host several annual Carnival events. This biggest event is the annual all-day “Bacchanal” festival which will be held Friday, April 17 at HofUSA. The highlight of the festival is the display of the vibrant costumes that represent the tenacity, unity and spirit of the people.
The sensational Carnival costumes have strong ties to ancient African traditions. Objects from Mother Earth such as feathers, bones, grass, beads and shells were used to embellish tribal masks and costumes. These objects symbolized the ability to overcome illness, pain, heartbreaks and other forms of adversity. Masks are important to the Carnival costume. In ancient African tradition, they were worn to conceal the wearer or to reveal another character than the wearer. Masks were seen as a line between sacred and secular life and usually had strict rules about who could wear them. Carnival costumes are well known for their array of huge feathers. Feathers were traditionally used on masks and headwear because they were believed to be connected to spiritual growth and empowerment.
Today, Carnival attire can never be too extravagant, the more glitz and embellishment, the better. Carnival is the time to go beyond the social norm as the spirit of the festival will influence you to step outside your comfort zone and go all out. A typical Carnival costume can range from $200 to $1,000, depending on its grandeur. But don’t worry; you don’t have to buy the entire costume – a mask or funny hat will do the trick as long as you’re having fun. From sparkling makeup to intricate headwear and lavish costumes, Carnival has no limits so don’t be afraid to express yourself and show out!