CARNIVAL IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AND NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL

By Alex Vila, Celso Simón and Victor Pulido,

Trinidad and Tobago is a country in the South Caribbean Sea, close to the east coast of Venezuela, and it consists of two islands: Trinidad and Tobago. The capital, in Trinidad, is Port of Spain.

Trinidad and Tobago celebrates the most important carnival of the Caribbean and it is one of the most beautiful carnivals in the world, often compared to the Carnival of Rio. The Carnival of Trinidad and Tobago is a great example of how people with different culture and customs can be united, because here the beliefs and traditions of many different cultures have come together to celebrate life.

Trinidad and Tobago was colonized by Spain and England at different times of its history, but by 1797, under British rule, thousands of French settlers came to live in Trinidad bringing with them their customs, culture and their African slaves, who also brought with them their own culture and traditions. It is since then that Carnival has been celebrated. Although the big party begins two days before Ash Wednesday, the preparations begin with New Year's day. There are musical competitions in which drums, claves and steelpans are the main instruments, and there are spectacular parades with the election of the Calypso Monarch and the King and Queen of the Bands.

The Notting Hill Carnival, in west London. This carnival was introduced years ago by Caribbean inmigrants, most of them from Trinidad and Tobago. It takes place during the last weekend of August and it is very famous for the colourful costumes and the steel band music played.

CARNIVAL. SHROVE TUESDAY OR MARDI GRAS

By Celso Simón, Cesar Muñíz and Lydia Feijóo.

• CARNIVAL. ORIGIN AND FESTIVAL

The word Carnival may come from the Latin expression 'carne levale' which means 'farewell to meat'.

Carnival is a public festival held in Roman Catholic countries during the week before Lent. During Lent people cannot eat meat or have fun, so Carnival is a period of time to enjoy everything that will not be allowed later in Lent.

It is thought that Carnival started in Italy and spread to France, Spain and Portugal. When these countries colonized America, they brought their traditions to this continent.

When Carnival first began, it was celebrated from December 26th until the day before Ash Wednesday. Nowadays it lasts three days and people celebrate it with street parties or parades and they also dress up and cook all kind of nice dishes.

• SHROVE TUESDAY OR MARDI GRAS

Shrove Tuesday(Martes de carnaval) This is the day before Lent and it is a day for people to eat the food that is forbbiden to eat during Lent. (See Pancake Day)

Mardi Gras. In some non-Roman Catholic countries this day is called Mardi Gras, and it is celebrated with a Carnival. In the US, the city of New Orleans celebrates the most famous Mardi Gras. There is drinking, dancing and a parade. Some historians think that Mardi Gras has its roots in ancient British rituals of fertility which celebrated that spring was coming.

SHROVE TUESDAY OR PANCAKE DAY

By Ana Feijóo, Lorena Domingos and Martín Cid

Martes de Carnaval

16th February, 2010

Shrove Tuesday is the day before the beginning of Lent, when Christians stop eating some food. On Shrove Tuesday, because it is the last day before Lent, people eat a lot, specially cakes and nice food that they cannot eat again until Easter.

Vocabulary: translation and definition.

Lent: cuaresma. The period of 40 days before Easter, when Christians fast.

Easter: Semana Santa. The period of time in April or March when Christians remember the death of Jesus and celebrate his resurrection.

Fast: ayunar; ayuno. It commemorates the forty days Jesus spent in the desert.

Ash Wednesday: miércoles de ceniza. The first day of Lent.

PANCAKE DAY (UK)

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  Tradition. In Britain it is a tradition eating pancakes. This began when people had to use all the milk, butter and eggs because they couldn't eat this food during Lent.


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  Pancake races. On Shrove Tuesday there are pancake races in which people run carrying a pancake in a frying pan. The runner have to get the finishing line after throwing the pancake into the air from the pan and catching it again. They have to do this a pre-decided number of times.


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  The pancake recipe.

( the pancakes are similar to the Galician 'filloas'. You need the same ingredients)

Vocabulary.

Add: añadir; cook: cocinar; heat: calentar; let stand: dejar reposar; melt: derretir; mix: mezclar; put: poner; turn it over: dale la vuelta; whisk: batir

Bowl: cuenco; batter: mezcla; frying pan: sartén; ladle: cucharón; plate: plato; smooth: suave; spoonfuls: cucharadas.

Ingredients.

8 oz plain flour .................... 200/220 g harina sin levadura

2 eggs ..................... 2 huevos

1 pint of milk ...................... 1/2 litro de leche

2 oz butter ...................... 50 g mantequilla

A pinch of salt ...................... una pizca de sal

Preparation.

Put the flour and salt into a bowl.

Add the eggs, then andd the milk and whisk until the batter is smooth.

Melt the butter

Add two spoonfuls of this butter into the batter and whisk it.

Let this stans for 30 minutes before cooking.

Heat the frying pan and add the batter with a ladle.

When it is brown, turn it over.

Then put the pancake on a plate. Now you can add golden syrup, jam, honey or caster sugar!

14th FEBRUARY: ST VALENTINE'S DAY

By Paula Sastre.

St Valentine's day is celebrated on 14th February. On this day people celebrate romantic love all over the world.

This tradition was born when St Valentine, while in prison, fell in love with a young girl who it is believed to be his warder's daughter. She visited him everyday during his confinement. Before his death he wrote her a love letter and signed 'from your Valentine'. Now people send Valentine's cards and use this expression to sign them. People also give presents to the person they love: jewels, flowers and/or chocolates.

2nd FEBRUARY PREDICTS THE WEATHER

By Ana Cabido, Luis Pérez, Maeloc Valdés, Iñigo Santos and Camila Lucía Chavez.

• Groundhog Day



• Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria

The groundhog is an animal from North America. It is a small animal of the marmot family. It lives in holes in the ground, it eats wild grasses, berries, crops and insects. It enters into hibernation and lives from two to three years. It’s 40 cm to 60 cm long and it has got thick hair, small ears and a long tail.

The cult of Our Lady of Candelaria (Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria), popularly called La Morenita, celebrates the apparition of the Virgin Mary on the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands. She is the patron saint of the Islands and her feast is celebrated on 2nd February.

Groundhog Day. In the U.S.A. The holiday, which began as a Pennsylvania German custom in southeastern and central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, has its origins in ancient European weather lore, wherein a badger or sacred bear is the prognosticator. According to the old stories the groundhog comes out of its hole on 2nd February for the first time since its hibernation (since winter began). If the groundhog sees its shadow, it is frightened and goes back to its hole. This means that there will be six more weeks of winter. If it is cloudy, it can’t see its shadow and there will be an early spring.

Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. Our Lady of Candelaria. In Spain. There is a Galician proverb which says: ‘Se a Candelaria chora, o inverno vai fora. Se a Candelaria ri o inverno está por vir’. If Candelaria cries, winter is finishing. If Candelaria smiles, winter is coming.

La Candelaria in Spain and the Groundhog Day in U.S.A are both celebrated on February 2nd and both festivities involves weather prognostication. So, now you know: if it is cloudy or rainy on this day, spring is coming, but if it is sunny, cold winter days will come!