St. Kitts Sugar Mas
Sweet To The Core
Sugar Mas is the affectionate name given to the St. Kitts and Nevis National Carnival, a festive celebration that blends Caribbean culture with the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. It is a vibrant, weeks-long event featuring music, parades, and elaborate masquerade costumes.
Etymology
The name “Sugar Mas” comes from two distinct parts:
- “Sugar”: A nod to the island’s history, where sugar cane was a foundational crop.
- “Mas”: A short form of “masquerade,” referring to the traditional costumes worn by revelers during the carnival’s parades.
Key events and attractions
The carnival is not a single event but a series of festivities that draw both locals and international visitors. Major events include:
- J’ouvert Morning: A sunrise street party where revelers dance through the streets, often covered in paint or mud.
- Grand Parade: The main event, featuring Mas bands in spectacular, brightly colored costumes adorned with feathers and beads. The parades are accompanied by the rhythmic sounds of calypso and soca music.
- Last Lap: The final day of the carnival, where participants hit the streets for one last round of celebratory dancing.
- Music Competitions: Showcase local musical talent through events like the Calypso and Soca Monarch competitions.
- Pageants and Fêtes: The festivities also include beauty pageants, such as the National Carnival Queen Pageant, and numerous private parties, known as fêtes.
A unique holiday season event
While many Caribbean carnivals are held before Lent, Sugar Mas is unique for taking place during the Christmas and New Year holidays, from mid-December to early January. This timing fills the holiday season with a unique combination of traditional Christmas cheer and high-energy Caribbean cultural expression.