A traditional costume with gold shoes. (Although this is not a traditional madras pattern because it's in black and white, madras is widely adopted on Martinique. After slavery was truly abolished, European islanders imported indentured servants and bondsmen from India and other places; the Indians brought with them their fabrics, and the African descendants adopted it and made it their own. Martinique is truly a melting pot.) - The Civilized Explorer- powered by SmugMug

Photos and videos from Carnaval in Fort de France, Martinique, 2008

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civex > Glitter was in evidence during the Ash Wednesday parade.

civex > A lovely couple of women who let me take close-ups of them.

civex > Martinique is the only Caribbean island to celebrate Ash Wednesday. All the other places stop at Fat Tuesday. Ash Wednesday, it turns out, is used to celebrate the burning of Vaval, a pagan tradition. The priests used to stand outside the church in Fort de France with a few Foreign Legionaires; the priests would sic the Legionaires on paraders to beat the crap out of them in a most disapproving way. I'm not sure why this photo reminds me of this story.

civex > The bakoua is a local hat similar to a Mexican sombrero, and these dancers really shake their bakouas.

civex > Another photo of the lovely reveler.

civex > Women with big hoops are appealing to some people, so here you go.

civex > A gorgeous woman who posed for me along the route.

civex > A lot of great haircuts show up during Carnaval.

civex > A traditional costume with gold shoes. (Although this is not a traditional madras pattern because it's in black and white, madras is widely adopted on Martinique. After slavery was truly abolished, European islanders imported indentured servants and bondsmen from India and other places; the Indians brought with them their fabrics, and the African descendants adopted it and made it their own. Martinique is truly a melting pot.)

A traditional costume with gold shoes. (Although this is not a traditional madras pattern because it's in black and white, madras is widely adopted on Martinique. After slavery was truly abolished, European islanders imported indentured servants and bondsmen from India and other places; the Indians brought with them their fabrics, and the African descendants adopted it and made it their own. Martinique is truly a melting pot.)