Caribbean Caribbean holidays are of palm trees and cocktails. Book at this website.
Airline Tickets Virgin Atlantic provides long haul flights to the most exciting cities on the planet.
Cheap Holidays This site offers you thousands of bargain holiday destinations from around the world.
Caribbean Holidays For information on Caribbean holidays use this website.
NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL
The FIVE DISCIPLINES OF CARNIVAL
Carnival tradition is based on these five elements. Together they give us the sounds and spectacular visuals that complete any carnival experience.
The 'Five Disciplines of Carnival' are:
Mas or Masquerade
The carnival costumes made for the processions and decorated floats
Steel Pan
Traditional instrument which is either static, or worn around the neck, from Trinidad
Calypso
Traditional Trinidadian political and satirical commentary set to music
Soca
High energy Trinidadian carnival music. 'Soca On The Move' refers to the soca music being played for the masqueraders costume bands also known as 'Carnival Mas Band'
Sound systems
Originally from Jamaica, playing hip hop, rnb, reggae, roots and culture calypso, soca music
Together they create the essence and spirit of carnival.
The Mas camps start work on their costumes in April calling on designers and volunteers.
Notting Hill Carnival has a host of events taking place throughout, be sure not to miss out!
MAS / COSTUME BANDS Mas Bands (Mas is short for Masquerade) or Costume Bands is one of the five diciplines of Carnival. The competition for best Mas on the Road is hotly contested. On Carnival Monday the bands compete along the route and hope to pick up points as they pass the judgeing point on Westbourne Park Road.
STEELPAN Notting Hill Carnival is the largest event showcasing the music and culture of Steelpan. The sound of Steelpan arrived in London in the early 50's when the Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra came to celebrate the Festival of Britain. Steelband, as a twentieth century art-form grew side by side in popularity with Calypso. The Best Steelband on the Road will be decided at the judging point at Great Western Road.
SOUND SYSTEMS
Static Sound Systems have become an integral part of Notting Hill Carnival with the sounds of reggea, roots, soca, calypso and hip hop. There are around fifty Sound Systems that can be found on most roads within the route.
Carnival Floats
There are about 100 floats that participate over the two days of Carnival. Carnival costumes, colours and sounds including steel pan, Calypso and Soca Sound Systems travel the route, taking up to 8 hours.
