Vincy Mas is a vibrant Caribbean funfair that begins on the final Friday of June and lasts for a total of 12 days. This year, it takes place from 30 June to 11 July. It is conducted in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a country in the Caribbean. The largest ceremonies take place on J’Ouvert and Mardi Gras, the final two days of the festival. It is the oldest festival in the country and a great source of national pride. It features traditional street parties, calypso, metal drumming, performances, and parades. The festival is filled with nonstop events and activities, spanning from musical performances to the Miss SVG competition. The Soca Monarch Contest and the Junior Pan Fest are additional attractions. Each year, thousands of tourists attend Vincy Mas, which has become a significant economic event for the country.
The background of Vincy Mas in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
The Caribbean’s melting mixture is the origin of the Vincy Mas funfair. It is a festivity that combines the traditions of colonisers, slaves, and natives. Originally, Vincy Mas was a funfair preceding Lent. The word funfair is derived from the Latin phrase carne levare, which means “to remove meat.” The origins of this celebration can be traced back to the Roman Catholic custom of abstaining from meat, alcohol, and other bodily indulgences for forty days prior to Easter. Thus, Carnival is the final opportunity to indulge in these indulgences before the beginning of Lent.
The arrival of French and English immigrants in the 17th and 18th centuries saw the incorporation of carnivals. Originally, only European settlers participated in Vincy Mas celebrations, which were private gatherings held in homes. Many of the indigenous people converted over time, and religious ceremonies began to take place. These ceremonies gradually incorporated both traditional Creole practises and African religious customs introduced to the island by freed slaves.
Calypso music was introduced in the 20th century, but the celebrations were not yet widespread because they were only performed by a subset of the population. Today, the Vincy Mas has its own distinct identity and has adopted and assimilated numerous cultural practises to become what it is. There are traditional music performances, soca, calypso, and concerts, as well as metal percussion competitions. Additionally, the youth of the city are catered to through the organisation of specific activities.
VINCY MAS IN SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES ACTIVITIES
Visit Vincy Mas
Spend 12 days celebrating in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines during the Vincy Mas celebrations. There is no better way to celebrate than by participating in the festivities.
Host your own Mardi Gras celebration.
Create your own costume, invite your friends, and throw your very own Mardi Gras party. Determine what imaginative costumes you and your companions can create.
Download and build a steel pan music playlist
Create a steel pan playlist and get into the spirit of Carnival with traditional holiday music. Enjoy yourself with friends and family!
5 Facts Concerning Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Only nine of the 32 islands and cays in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are inhabited.
In 1765, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines established the earliest botanical gardens in the Western Hemisphere.
The Amazona Guildingii, also known as the Saint Vincent Parrot, is the national avian.
Here, multiple sequences were filmed for three “Pirates of the Caribbean” films.
La Soufriere, which means ‘Sulphur Mine,’ is an active volcano that erupted in 2021.
VINCY MAS IN SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES DATES
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2022 | June 24 | Friday |
2023 | June 30 | Friday |
2024 | June 28 | Friday |
2025 | June 27 | Friday |
2026 | June 26 | Friday |