Carnival Monday

This parade day has three sections: J’ouvert, ‘Pretty Mas’ and Monday Night Mas.

J’ouvert is an early morning celebration where inhibitions are thrown to the wind and each dance partner is a mystery. It starts around 3 AM and you can choose to be covered in paint, mud (as used in spas), oil, powder, chocolate or a mixture of the above. This can go on well until noon, however most revellers leave a bit earlier to meet their ‘mas band’ at the starting point of its Monday route.

Most pretty ‘mas bands’ converge at their designated starting point at around 10 AM.  In the past, Carnival Monday was a day for the masqueraders more so than the spectators simply because the dress code was very casual; ‘pum pum’ shorts and a top would do. Not anymore! There has been a radical shift in the Monday wear game. Mas bands and private designers now offer fashion forward and sometimes even one of a kind Monday wear options. Some bands have gone as far as to offer Monday only packages!

Monday Night Mas is held in central Port of Spain and portrays many of the more traditional/historical Carnival characters. This is great for a spectator only type crowd. This begins at midnight and keeps on going!