Carribean carnival spirit hits Dominica

Caribbean Carnival spirit comes to the island of Dominica this February with Mas Domnik 2007 – ‘The Real Mas’. The annual carnival officially started in January but truly kicks-off in February culminating with Jump Up - the National Traditional Carnival Street Party on 19 February 2007 and island wide celebrations on Carnival Tuesday, 20 February 2007.

Carnival (or Masquerade as it can be referred to) is strongly an Afro-French festival. The festival is rooted in the masquerade in which revellers on the streets wore masks to conceal their identity. The African love of colour, costumes, masks and the rhythm of the drumbeat predominantly influence masquerade.

During Carnival, flamboyant shows, dance, drumming competitions and pageantry take place across the island throughout the month. The island comes alive with frenetic activity, from the crowning of Miss Dominica and the Calypso Monarch to awarding the best costume band.

On 21st February 2007 Tewe Vaval is celebrated in the Carib territory and in Dublanc (in the islands north west). This event is held on the afternoon of Ash Wednesday, to symbolically bury or burnt the spirit of Carnival. An effigy of Vaval (the symbolic spirit of the carnival) is burnt at sunset, marking the end of the revelry and the beginning of Lent.

Win a trip to Dominica!

The Dominica Tourist Office is offering travellers the chance to win a holiday to discover Dominica themselves. The prize, for two people, includes a six-day/five-night stay at Calibishie Lodges in Dominica, air travel and transfers. Also included in the prize are selected activities courtesy of Wacky Rollers, JTAS, Anchorage Hotel Whale Watch & Dive Center and Irie Safarie Snorkelling Tours.

To enter, visit the website discoverdominica.com and answer a number of simple questions. The competition will run until 31st March 2007.