The carnival celebrations in Trinidad begin on February 23. Have a family festival at home by crafting masks, dancing to music and making Callaloo soup.
Education and Activities
 Social Studies & History: Carnival (also spelled Carnaval) is celebrated around the world, with some of the liveliest festivities taking place in Trinidad. The parties wrap up just before Lent. Carnival celebrations in Trinidad incorporate rituals and activities from the Spanish, French and West African cultures that have settled there.
Language Arts & Reading: Carnem means “meat” in Latin. Some say the name Carnival comes from the phrase carnem levare or carnelevarium, meaning “to take away meat,” since meat was not eaten during Lent. Older children can polish their root-word and vocabulary skills by listing English words derived from Latin. Younger kids can check out Jump Up Time: A Trinidad Carnival Story, by Lynn Joseph and Linda Saport, to read about a native family’s Carnival celebration.
Art & Music: West African traditions play a major role in shaping the culture of Carnival costumes, music, art and dance. The music is filled with steel drums and features calypso and soca sounds. Parade participants fill the streets with colorful floats and don intricate costumes and masks. A “junior parade” gives kids the opportunity to have their own special celebration. Help your child create a mask using a paper plate, string, feathers, beads, buttons and recycled decorations from around the house.
Food: Trinidadian cuisine features a blend of flavors borrowed from various cultures that settled on the islands, including African, Indian and Chinese.
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