Having lived in the UK since 1990, I’ve become accustomed to straddling two cultures and today is an apt example of that: Pancake Day and Carnival Tuesday.
Normally, on this day, and for several days prior, I’m in a tabanca (deep pain caused by loss or missing someone/something) along with thousands of others unfortunate enough to not find themselves in Trinidad and Tobago for carnival. However, this year it is particularly poignant as our numbers are joined by every single carnivalist as due to the pandemic, the T&T government took the decision to cancel the event.
This is a blow to the economy and the psyche, as Bunji eloquently expresses on Heart Of The People, it ranges from those of us who need the release to granny selling her wares to those who construct the stages. Our sorrow is shared with revellers in the carnival cities of New Orleans and Venice and neighbouring countries like Dominica and Brazil. Yet, social media platforms are filled with scenes of revellers celebrating in alternative ways.
In many ways, this is a return to the roots of carnival, when Africans created new celebrations, a fusion of their traditions while incorporating elements from the lavish parties hosted by plantation owners. This was feasting and feting on a grand scale; exhilaration, extravagance and indulgence were the watchwords before the sombre self-denial of Lent.
The memories of carnival can keep the spirit buoyed for years, even decades as I recall playing mas as a child, teenage J’ouvert with friends and panorama with my then boyfriend, now husband.
In a year full of privation which seems never-ending, my boys and I are revelling and being reminded by Nadia to count our blessings, Patrice that better days are coming, Kes and co that the vibes can’t stop and by Machel and Nappy that we are one big family.
For a lagniappe, Blaxx sings that we are blessed.
And we’re definitely indulging in the ‘gras’ by whipping up some pancakes.
What are you doing this pancake and carnival Tuesday?
Way to go. Trini to de bone! Had my pancakes for breakfast and now going back in time with Kitchener, Sparrow , Duke and Chalkdust,, Rose and Singing Sandra.
love the old school.
As planned I had my obligatory single pancake – that was about it. What I always wonder is whether or not, when people are eating their pancakes do they realise that there’s a religious element to it – its not just that a random Tuesday is picked to stuff our faces with pancakes. There’s a reason Shrove Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent
But this year, it is very different – let’s not forget here in London we missed our carnival 2020 and whilst we don’t run mas in the same way as in T&T and other islands and though it’s been a number of years since I’ve walked the carnival route we missed stuff like Panorama and costume/float judging I really do miss – BUT I do keep myself occupied by looking at Carnivals layers on IG 😜
Thanks for the reply. Love the maco-ing on IG.