Carnival is a tradition that dates back to antiquity, so long ago that its original form and the original conditions under which it was born have not yet been definitely discovered. In its Christian manifestation, it is a celebration that begins on Epiphany, a January 6 holiday to honor the visit of the Magi to Jesus Christ that continues to Ash Wednesday. ,

The tradition did not originate with Christianity. The same kind of popular celebration is found among almost all people: The Egyptians had the festival of Isis and Osiris; the Greeks had the Bacchanalia; and the Romans, the Saturnalia. Despite its profane character and attributes of complete licentiousness and abandonment, as with other pagan holidays, the Christian Church tolerated it and simply put some order into it so as not to be in direct opposition with a profound popular tradition.

Carnival in Haiti is a time for people to assemble parade, sing, dance, amuse themselves, or let go; it’s a time when society accepts any and almost all kinds of behavior. Coming as it does before Lent, a season for penitence and sacrifice, people traditionally used carnival as a holiday – three days long in Haiti since a decree of President Sténio Vincent during the first U.S. occupation to release inhibitions and satisfy pent-up desires to avoid temptation later. Psychologists and sociologists see it as a kind of equilibrating period necessary to make up for the interdictions and rules of society and of the year, because no matter what one’s class or social standing, everyone is supposedly thrown together to revel.

Carnival in Haiti is the event of the year. As with other Carnivals, many participants wear elaborate costumes. The costumed participants dance through the streets to the sounds of a band. Each band is led by a King and Queen, which are extremely large costumes. Band leaders begin working on their compositions months in advance and usually begin playing the sounds on radio and TV one month before the Dimanche Gras (Carnival Sunday).

Today, Carnival has lost many of its traditional aspects and has become a time when businesses do a lot of advertising, sponsoring stands or floats. Drinks, decorations and costumes are all big sellers. The bands are paid extravagant fees by the municipality or sponsor. Politicians of ten take advantage to award contracts to friends.

Carnival also has a very strong political dimension, at least in Haiti. Although three-quarters of the song are about women because of the strong male-chauvinism in Haitian society, a community’s scandals, the gossip and the salient events of the year, flattery or mockery of famous people which cannot be said openly are all heard in carnival songs.

Carnival also contains a contradiction. While it represents a space where people can express their political frustrations or demands, it can also be used by the government as a diversion to distract the population from political problems, taking the heat off and allowing it to gain some time. During Carnival, normal time is suspended and the daily Dories are forgotten for as long as the festival lasts. During the Carnival season, most Haitians take the opportunity to enjoy themselves and forget about their problems for a few days.

Haitian Carnival is the annual “Celebrating Life” that takes place throughout Haiti, the Caribbean and most of South America. The Carnival season in Haiti is a holiday period during the two weeks before the traditional Christian fast of Lent. As the most anticipated cultural event of the year, the Haitian Carnival is celebrated though dancing, singing, parades. It draws from elements of the African and French customs, including music, masquerades and dancing. In essence, Carnival is much more than a large part of cultural tradition that binds people together.

Jacmel’s Carnival is best known for these papier-maché masks topping multu-colored costumes representing each species in vibrant detail: lions, alligators, zebras, giraffes, frogs, crocodiles, flamingos, parrots, horses, rhinoceros, elephants, snakes, dragons, rabbits, even yellow eyed mice that look like laboratory mutants.