Table of Contents
What does a dame Lorraine do?
The Dame Lorraine or Dame Lorine was imitative of the mas played by the 18th and early 19th century French planters, who would dress up in elegant costumes of the French aristocracy and parade in groups at private homes, particularly on Carnival Sunday night. They also performed the sophisticated dances of the period.
What characteristics did the Dame Lorraine possess?
She is characterized as a voluptuously large woman who wears a long dress and dances in the mas.
What is the typical Dame Lorraine costume?
Dame Lorraine The typical costume consists of exaggerated breasts and backside, which were made by stuffing pillows or other fillers into the dress or undergarments of the costume. Over the years, the costume shifted from being worn comedically by mostly men to being worn almost exclusively by women.
What was the first part of the dance of the Dame Lorraine?
The first part featured a parade of people dressed in costumes of the 18th century French aristocrats. A haughty butler introduced arriving couples, after which a stately dance was performed while a slave gaped through a window at the proceedings.
What is a fancy sailor?
The Fancy Sailor was an off-shoot of the King Sailor. The fancy sailor costume consists of papier-mâché headpieces, decorated and painted to look like birds, animals or plants. The sailor outfit is decorated with ribbons, medals, braiding, swans down and other embellishments to match the headpieces.
What is the Pierrot Grenade well known for?
The Pierrot Grenade is the satirical descendant of the Pierrot – a finely dressed masquerader and deeply learned scholar. Pierrot Grenade falls under the category of Old Time Carnival and is the supreme jester in Trinidad Carnival. The Pierrot Grenade delights in displaying his knowledge and ability to spell any word.
What is a Blue Devil in Carnival?
One of the most iconic characters portrayed in Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival, the Blue Devil, or Jab Molassie is one of the oldest forms of ‘Devil Mas’ , and is a figure with its roots firmly set in the history of the island, dating back to the enslavement of black Africans toiling on the sugar estates.
What is the baby doll carnival character?
The Baby Doll character, a common sight during late 19th Century Carnival, is a satirical portrayal of a mother with an illegitimate baby. Often the masquerader portrays a gaily dressed younger woman, with a frilled dress exposing her legs, gloves, and a large poke bonnet or mob cap.
What is a jab Molassie?
The Jab Molassi or Molasses Devil is one of the oldest forms of Devil Mas. He wears wings, horns, has a wire tail and carries a pitch fork and usually strikes fear in the hearts of both young and old. He was usually covered in a sticky black substance, which was in the old days, molasses.
Where was the fancy sailor originated?
THE FANCY SAILOR – This character was introduced in the Trinidad Carnival in the 1880s when British, French and American naval ships came to Trinidad. It is one of the more popular costumes, being lightweight and inexpensive.
What is J ouvert in Trinidad?
J’ouvert (pronounced “Jou-vay”) is derived from French patois and means ‘daybreak’. Jouvert marks the official start of the two day carnival celebrations in Trinidad & Tobago. It usually officially commences at 4:00 a.m. on Carnival Monday.
Who is the Dame Lorraine of the carnival?
Whereas in the past it was mainly men who dressed as the Dame Lorraine character, lately more women portray the character. “Dame Lorraine or Dame Lorine”, Traditional Carnival Characters. “Traditional Carnival Characters” Archived 2014-12-15 at the Wayback Machine., NALIS.
Who is Dame Lorraine in Trinidad and Tobago?
Dame Lorraine. Dame Lorraine ( Trinidad and Tobago )as it is called in the land of its birth Trinidad, and in the wider diaspora, or Mother Sally in Barbados, is a historical Trinidad Carnival Character. She is characterized as a voluptuously large woman who wears a long dress and dances in the mas.
What did the whites dress up as at the carnival?
The pre-emancipation Carnival saw whites costume themselves as Negues Jadin ( Negres Jardin – French for Garden Negroes) and mulatresses. They also reenacted the Cannes Brulées (French for Burning Canes): the practice of rounding up slaves to put out fires in the cane field.
Where did the term jamettes come from in Carnival?
It comes from the French word “diametre” meaning beneath the diameter of respectability, or the underworld . It was used at that time to describe a certain class in the community. The “Jamettes” occupied the barrack yards of East Port of Spain. They were the stickfighters, prostitutes, chantuelles, matadors and dustmen.