So you’ve decided to play mas. You’ve chosen your destination and you’re starting to plan, but what does it mean to play ah mas and why are people asking where you’ll be jumping? There are many of terms specific to the world of carnival and, naturally, we want to make sure that you’re tapped in. Dive into out Ultimate Guide to Carnival Terminology guide, a living article that is frequently updated, so that you can keep up with conversation.
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B
Backline Costume: within a section, a backline costume is the least ornate. It generally consists of a section’s base costume and sometimes has leg pieces or hand pieces. Backline costumes are the typically the cheapest option within a section’s costume offerings.
Band: A band or troupe (the term used is dependent on the location of the carnival) is the entity that is responsible for offering an experience for to-be revellers. Within a band are sections who are responsible for creating costumes based on the band’s theme. Bands and band leaders are responsible for managing a group of section leaders, are responsible for curating a rich and entertaining road experience inclusive of costumes, music/DJs, food/beverages which is offered to revellers as a carnival package.
Band Launch: the official event where bands present their themes, sections and costumes to the public. Typically, band launches are in-person events where DJs spin and models wear costumes down a runway, but in the advent of COVID-19 pandemic, select bands have chosen to host their band launches virtually.
Band Leader: the individual who is at the head of the band.
Bodywear: the base of a costume. Bodywear comes in the forms of a one-piece (monokini), two-piece (top with a bottom) or shorts. Some bands allow revellers to customize their body wear type giving them the choice to choose from bikini bottoms, boy shorts, full coverage panty, and more.
C
Carnival Monday: for revelers who jump in Trinidad, this date refers to the Monday before Ash Wednesday and the day before the road march. During Carnival Monday there is usually a road march where revellers are decked out in Monday wear.
Carnival Tuesday: for revelers who jump in Trinidad, this date refers to the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the day of the road march. During Carnival Tuesday, the parade is held, formally titled the Parade of the Bands, where revellers are decked out in their section’s costume.
Crop Over: Crop Over is Barbados’ nearly three month-long festival that is capped with the Grand Kadooment parade.
Cross the Stage: for carnivals that have a stage component, revelers are asked to ‘cross the stage’ where they are judged is
Carnival Chaser: an individual who has attended, and continues to attend, many carnivals in a given calendar year.
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Fete: a Caribbean party typically held in the lead up to and after a road march where soca and/or calypso music is primarily heard. There are all-inclusive fete (which means patrons will have access to unlimited food and drinks) and cooler fete (where patrons are encouraged to bring their own cooler filled with the drinks of their choice, though a bar is typically present at these events).
Frontline Costume: consists of a more elaborate version of the section’s base costume, leg or hand pieces and a beautifully decorated feathered backpack. Frontline costumes are the typically the most expensive, if not, among the most expensive
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Masquerader: an individual that participates in carnival. This term is used interchangeably with ‘reveler.’
Mas Camp: the physical headquarters of a band. The Mas Camp is typically the site where section leaders create costumes (this will vary by band/section), where costumes are displayed for people to see them in person and where costumes are distributed.
Monday Wear: Monday Wear is typically worn on Carnival Monday. It is a less ornate outfit than what would be worn during the road march on Carnival Tuesday.
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Section Leader: an individual or a group of people who are at the head of a section. On some occasions, section leaders are also designers, but this is not always the case.
