Saint Lucia Carnival History

Carnival is a festive season which normally occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life.
Carnival is a festival traditionally held in Roman Catholic and, to a lesser extent, Eastern Orthodox societies. Protestant areas usually do not have carnival celebrations or have modified traditions, such as the Danish Carnival or other Shrove Tuesday events. The Brazilian Carnaval is one of the best-known celebrations today, but many cities and regions worldwide celebrate with large, popular, and days-long events. These include the Carnevale of Venice and the Carnevale of Viareggio, Italy, the German Rhineland carnivals, centering on the Carnivals in Düsseldorf, Cologne and Mainz; the carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands; in Andalusia(Spain)Carnival of Cádiz ; the carnaval of Torres Vedras, Portugal; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Rijeka, Croatia; Barranquilla, Colombia; the Carnaval and the Llamadas in Montevideo, Uruguay and Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. In the United States, the famous Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama, date back to French and Spanish colonial times.
St. Lucia Carnival celebrations were shifted from the month of February before lent to July.  St. Lucia Carnival activities usually start with the official launch of Carnival at the end of May or during the first week of June. Carnival stands out as one of the major festivals in St. Lucia. A highly traditional event, Carnival festivities usually includes competitions and performances by masquerade (Mas) bands, calypso and soca singers, steel bands, and beauty contestants.
The activities usually start with the Calypso competition which is a number of small concerts depicting social commentary in song. Participants compete as individuals in groups or “Tents” as they are referred to in St. Lucia. These Tents go through a number of performances until they vie for a place in the Finals of the St. Lucia Calypso Season.
Other events of St. Lucia Carnival include the Carnival Queen Pageant, The Soca Monarch Competition, and Parade of the Bands.
This Parade brings to a climax the celebration of St. Lucian Carnival. Titles such as Carnival Queen, Calypso Monarch, Panorama Champions, Party Monarch among others will have already been decided. On these days revellers take to the streets in a bouillion of colour and music as each band strives to capture the coveted title of “Band of the Year”.