Making a Case for Aruba Carnival 2015: Uncommon Envy
True to our Trini roots, we at Uncommon Caribbean lean decidedly toward Trinidad & Tobago concerning all things Carnival. That does not mean, however, that we don’t appreciate the colorful street fete as it’s celebrated elsewhere across the Caribbean each year.
Over our first four years in operation, we’ve touched on the Carnival fun in Anguilla, Barbados, Cuba, Grenada, Haiti, Martinique, St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Vincent. In the coming years, though, we’re hoping to bring you more in-depth coverage of these and all other Caribbean Carnivals by living a long-standing dream to experience each one!
The following video suggests we may want to start in Aruba…
Aruba has celebrated its version of Carnival during the weeks leading up to Lent for 60 years. Parades, dancing, and skimpy costumes are all part of the fun here, as elsewhere, but what really has me keen on checking this party out is its rich mix of music.
Calypso, soca, and steelpan riddims play prominently just like in Trinidad, but you’ll also hear salsa and merengue, owing to the strong Latin influence on the island, as well as tumba, an endemic musical form in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao with roots in Africa.
That rich mix of music combined with all the revelry featured in the video has Aruba Carnival near the top of my wish list for 2015.
Got a favorite Caribbean Carnival that you think we shouldn’t miss? Let us know in the comments section below…
Lead photo credit: FotoCastor via Flickr.
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