J'ouvert (/dʒuːˈveɪ/ joo-VAY) (also Jour ouvert, Jouvay, or Jouvé)[1][2][3] is a traditional Carnival celebration in many countries throughout the Caribbean.
The parade is believed to have its foundation in Trinidad & Tobago, with roots steeped in French Afro-Creole traditions such as Canboulay.
[13][14] Enslaved Africans, who were banned from participating in Carnival, are said to have staged their own mini-carnivals, but using their own rituals and folklore[13] and imitating or mocking their masters' masquerade balls.
[18] Before Emancipation, enslaved Africans in Trinidad had celebrated Canboulay, a night-time harvest festival characterized by drums, singing, calinda dancing, chanting, and stick-fighting.
This resulted in disturbances known as the Camboulay Riots, which took place in Port of Spain, San Fernando, and Princes Town.
[14] In 1884, the colonial government passed the Peace Preservation Act, which prohibited public carrying of torches, drumming, blowing horns, and stick-fighting (or the assembly of ten or more people with sticks).
[36] Some historians claim that revelers took advantage of the pre-dawn darkness and began festivities before 6:00 A.M.—and that this secret and rebellious celebration is the origin of J'ouvert.
For instance, there is a local Trinidadian legend about a soucouyant, who sheds her skin at night and consumes the blood of her victims.
[30][31][32] By contrast, in Aruba J'ouvert is referred to as the "pajama party parade," as people can join wearing comfortable, regular clothes rather than dressing up in costume.
Pretty Mas is the Carnival parade featuring colorful costumes which are often made of feathers, beads, gem stones, brightly coloured fabrics, glitter and other elaborate body adornments and is more popular while commercially publicized.
J'ouvert uses the rebellious nature of powder, mud and oil, while Pretty Mas celebrates the abstract allure of glitter, colour and light.
Brooklyn is home to the largest West Indian population outside the Caribbean,[51][52] and began its own Carnival celebration in the late 1960s.
Featuring traditional steelbands (DJs and sound systems prohibited) and ole mas costumes, the Brooklyn J'ouvert attracts tens of thousands Carnival enthusiasts.
[56][57] J'ouvert marks the start of London's Notting Hill Carnival,[58] one of the biggest street festivals in the world.