The Origins of Carnival

We wouldn’t have Notting Hill Carnival if it wasn’t for the original Caribbean carnivals. So where did all of this originate? 

Carnival actually stems from a pagan holiday. European slave traders excluded African and Caribbean slaves from their celebrations and hosted lavish masquerade balls to celebrate the Roman Catholic holiday CarneVale. After emancipation former Caribbean and African slaves transformed the holiday into a celebration of black freedom. It’s widely understood that the festival was born in Trinidad and Tobago in the late 18th century after French settlers brought the Fat Tuesday masquerade traditions to the islands. 

Not every island celebrates carnival the same. Different islands celebrate it in different ways. One common celebration across the Caribbean is J’ouvert. J’ouvert is a pre-dawn street party that typically kicks off Carnival celebrations. The name comes from the French "jour ouvert," meaning "open day" or "dawn". People cover themselves in paint, mud, or oil, and participate in "jab" traditions, which involve wearing chains, horns, and other items as a satirical representation of oppression.

Key elements of carnival:

Costumes

Carnival costumes reflect Caribbean, African, Indigenous, and European influences, blending together histories of resistance, celebration, and survival. Feathers and jewels in specific colours adorn the costumes with ties to folklore, traditional mas and historical figures. 

Freed slaves used costumes and masquerades to mock the colonial powers that oppressed them, and the act of dressing up became a radical expression of freedom.

Sound Systems and Steelpans

Sound systems are central to Notting Hill’s atmosphere. The mobile DJ setups which are often parked on street corners, blast music like reggae, dancehall and soca all throughout the day, drawing revellers in. Originating from Jamaican musical culture, sound systems were brought to London by Windrush generation migrants and are now an essential backbone of the festival. Steel pans are also an essential element of carnival. Originating in Trinidad, steel pan bands are central to the island and carnival across the world. Steelpan bands perform live on the road and on stages, often competing in Panorama, the annual steelpan contest that occurs at the beginning of the carnival season. 

Notting Hill Carnival is more than an event, it's community And a sign of Caribbean creativity, resistance and our collective power.