Carnival in Saint Lucia - A Colorful and Unforgetable Experience.

Before beads, beer and bare breast on Bourbon Street in New Orleans there was the festive floats and excitement of Carnival all over the globe. The idea of Mardi Gras and Carnival has recently become synonymous with hedonism and gluttony in the Big Easy; but, let's deconstruct Carnival and rebuild it to truly understand its meaning.

Carnival had its origin as a festive period before Lent. The term carnival is thought to derive from the "carnelevarium" which means removal of meat (which was part of the Roman Catholic Lent).

Carnival in the country of Saint Lucia is similar to that of many other Caribbean nations in that the celebration blends aspects of African Culture, Christianity, and slavery. From Ash Wednesday until Easter, traditional Catholics abstain from meat and other sensuous temptations.

Carnival in the Caribbean most likely started in Trinidad and Tobago in the 18th century and rapidly spread to the surrounding islands.

Carnival in Saint Lucia is one of the largest in the world with the crowning of the National Carnival Queen and several lively parades with Calypso, Soca, and Steelpan music.

Carnival is a spectacle that you want to savor and enjoy. The spectators are respectful and polite. The performances are truly electrifying and the decorative floats are captivating.

Leave the restrictive walls of the resort behind and venture to the capital city of Castries where you can enjoy a leisurely stroll through the open-air market or a delicious lunch.

Claim a spot on the main avenue or hilltop to get a glimpse of the whimsical, and certainly unforgettable, colorful spectacle know as Carnival.