Carnaval - The most anticipated cultural event of the year in Haiti.
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It’s been 2 weeks now since haitians in haiti are getting ready for the most anticipated cultural event of the year. The Carnaval Season in Haiti is a holiday period during the two weeks before the traditional Christian fast of Lent. In Haiti we say Carnaval instead of Carnival, it is a tradition that dates back to antiquity.
During these days it is a time for the majority of haitians to assemble to parade, sing, dance, amuse themselves, let go be free ; a time for all type of social and political behaviors. This year at least 20 musical groups are assured to have their carnaval floats and therefore will participate in the 3 fatty days of the Carnaval in Haiti, particularly that in Port-au-Prince during Sunday 3 , Monday 4 and Tuesday February 5.
As for the bands and groups called the “Bandes A Pied” which means Walking Musical Groups, 11 of the them have been choosen from the contest organized by the Managing Committee of Carnaval 2008, which has for theme “a Green Haiti for a Flourishing Republic”.
As a member of the organizing committee, the musician Pierre Rigaud Chéry specifies that the Town hall of Port-with-Prince also called The City Hall , which acts as the organizing authority of the carnaval, “will not be able to subsidize to 100% the musical formations which will ravel during the three fatty days”.
“Approximately 14 allegorical floats will follow the course of the Carnaval 2008, with the participation of 39 queens and 21 kings. More than 5 thousand people from 300 disguised groups” will be at their best during these 3 days according to Gary Saint-Germain of the organizing committee.
For this carnaval, the Haitian authorities spent (about US$3 millions) 75 million gourdes, including 50 million with the municipality of Port-with-Prince and 5 million with that of Jacmel, which has just held his traditional “national carnaval” during a high weekend full of colors ( January the 26, and 27 2008). As for the private sector with top companies such Digicel, Voila, Haitel, Brana, Comme Il Faut and other top companies established in Haiti, are expected to spend some US$21 millions.
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Haiti Carnaval 2008 Coverage
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