Barbados and St. Vincent have removed the religious yoke that ties the Carnival to short and 'long' seasons. However, the dates that these islands have chosen make complete financial sense. The people who make a living from the carnival festivities have adequate time to plan and take advantage of the fixed carnival dates. I have attached the calendar of events for the 2010 Carnival celebration that will take place in St. Vincent and an article from socafreak.com about the history of St. Vincent Carnival. I trust you will benefit from this information, as we, as a collective Caribbean people, must learn to support each other's development.
The celebration of St. Vincent Carnival, also known as Vincy Mas, dates back to the 1890s and takes place on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. This was a time to throw away inhibitions and "free up" before the commencement of Lent. The Catholic Lent is a period of fasting in which Catholics refrain from loud behavior and sinful indulgences.
The CDC (Carnival Development Committee) decided in 1976 to move the carnival's date from February/March to June/July, effective the following year. Vincy Carnival continues to take place in June/July to this day.
Vincy Mas, like other West Indian carnivals, is a mixture of African culture, European tradition, and Caribbean and local folklore. It's a season when the general populace joins in the celebration of Vincentian talent, artistry, and craft in a variety of forms. These include steel pan music, soca, calypso, and masquerade.
Vincy Carnival is now much more than just a cultural event but a major economic activity. It attracts thousands of tourists to the island, as well as overseas-based Vincentians. Vincy Mas has become a major money earner for the country.
Major highlights include The Miss Carival Show, which is a leading Caribbean beauty pageant. Then there's the much anticipated Mardi Gras Parade of the Bands, where Masquerade Bands compete for Band of the Year. The Dimanche Gras Show highlights the finals of the National Calypso Monarch Competition, King and Queen of Carnival, and Panorama. The Soca Monarch Competition in Victoria Park is another major attraction. For the children, there's the ever-popular Junior Carnival, Junior Calypso, Junior Soca Monarch, and Junior Panorama.
If you want to come to Vincy Land at a time when there are shows galore and lots of excitement, trust me, there's no better time than Vincy Mas 2010.
Information Source:
Calender Source:http://www.carnivalsvg.com/