Carnival - Spice Mas at Grenada

Carnival is a big part of the culture of most of the Caribbean Islands.  Here in Grenada, for four days (Saturday to Tuesday) everything on the island closes so that every Grenadian can participate in Carnival and party!

For months leading up to Carnival, locals are busy making costumes and practicing their steel drum skills in preparation for Carnival.  Cruisers are encouraged to join in too - just buy one of the many costumes up for sale and join in.

There are many different events over the four days.  There are soca and calypso music competitions, beauty pageants and a few different kinds of parades.  There is J'Ouvert (also known as Devil Mas or Jab Jab) which starts at 4am, where participants cover themselves in brightly coloured paint and throw different colours on each other and unsuspecting bystanders.  There is Pageant Mas (also known as the Pretty Parade or Fancy Mas), where beautiful women get into teams and dress up in the most elaborate costumes.  Then there is Monday Night Mas where the paraders' costumes consist of different coloured flashing lights.

We decided Pageant Mas was our thing, not too early, not too late, with lots of colour (although no risk of it being thrown on us!), and lots of pretty girls.  We stood by the stage where the masqueraders shook their booty for the judges to music so loud that even your bones vibrated with the beat.