Haitian Carnival

Haitian Carnival (Haitian Creole: Kanaval, French: Carnaval) is a joyful celebration that takes place over several weeks each year, leading up to Mardi Gras. The main event, called Haitian Defile Kanaval, happens in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. This special time is filled with colorful parades, music, and dancing.

The big parade is known as "Kye Marn" and is Haiti’s largest carnival. While the main celebration occurs in Port-au-Prince, smaller events also happen in places like Jacmel and Aux Cayes. These carnivals happen at the same time as other Mardi Gras celebrations around the world.

Haiti has other smaller carnivals too. One is called Rara, which takes place during the Catholic Lent season. It includes bands and parades, similar to the main carnival. There is also a yearly event called Carnaval des Fleurs, held on July 7.

Carnival

Port-au-Prince's annual carnival is one of the biggest Mardi Gras celebrations in the Caribbean and North America. The carnival season starts in January with Pre-Kanaval, and the main carnival happens in February, ending on Mardi Gras, also called Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday. This is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which starts the Lenten season leading up to Easter.

People enjoy the carnival with music, bands, and parades. The parades include colorful floats, sometimes with children joining in the fun. There are food stands selling tasty treats, and people wear masks and costumes. Music plays a big role, with bands performing different types of music like zouk and rap kreyòl. The carnival is a special chance for bands to perform in front of many people. Every year, tourists also come to enjoy the lively celebrations.

History

The big public celebration of carnival in Haiti began in 1804 in Port-au-Prince.

Some people thought carnival celebrations were not right because they included dances and music that made fun of leaders.

After a big earthquake in 2010, carnival celebrations were smaller and used less money. In 2011, performers made funny costumes about hard times after the earthquake. In 2012, the carnival grew bigger again and was enjoyed by many.

In 2015, the carnival had to stop early after an accident happened.

Creole carnival expressions

Haitian Creole has many fun expressions used during carnival time. These phrases help people enjoy the celebration freely, like "let go of yourself" or "put your hands in the air." Musicians from places like New York City often come back to Haiti to play music at the carnival.

Sometimes, young men have friendly contests called gagann during the festivities, with supporters watching around them.

Rara

Haiti has a special celebration called Rara that is different from its big Mardi Gras carnival. Rara happens during the day and sometimes at night during Lent, ending with a big week of fun during Holy Week, which includes Easter. Rara started in the countryside around Port-au-Prince and is based on old customs from rural areas.

During Rara, there are colorful parades with musicians playing drums, tin trumpets, bamboo horns called vaksens, and other instruments. The music is known as rara music. Dancers and costumed characters like Queens (rèn), Presidents, and Colonels join the parades, following a special order like bands in New Orleans Mardi Gras.

Carnaval des Fleurs

Michel Martelly organized a special carnival called Carnaval des Fleurs, or Flower Carnival, from July 29 to 31, 2012. This event featured popular local konpa bands. Though people say this type of carnival happened in the past, there had not been one like it since at least 1986, when Haiti began its move toward democracy.

Koudyay

Koudyay is a kind of spontaneous celebration in Haiti, much like a carnival. During the time when Haiti was ruled by Papa Doc Duvalier, the government organized these koudyay events. The idea was to give people a safe way to have fun and let off steam, so they wouldn't riot over tough economic and political problems.

Kompa carnival bands

Carnival is a big event for musicians in Haiti. They get to perform for lots of people during the three days before Ash Wednesday. Many bands play different kinds of music, but one popular style is called compas, which is spelled konpa in Haitian Creole.