J'ouvert

This article is about the Caribbean festivity. For the EP, see J'ouvert (EP). For the song, see J'ouvert (song).
"Juvee" redirects here. Not to be confused with Juve or Juvie.
J'ouvert
TypeNational
CelebrationsParades
DateVaries among Caribbean islands
FrequencyAnnual

J'ouvert (/dʒuːˈveɪ/ joo-VAY) (also Jour ouvert, Jouvay, or Jouvé)[1][2][3] is a traditional Carnival celebration in many countries throughout the Caribbean. The parade is believed to have its foundation in Trinidad & Tobago, with roots steeped in French Afro-Creole traditions such as Canboulay.[4][5] J'ouvert typically begins in the early morning, before dawn, and peaks by mid-morning.[6][7] The celebration involves calypso or soca bands, DJs, and their followers dancing through the streets. In many countries, revelers cover their bodies in paint, mud, or pitch oil.[8][9][7] Today J'ouvert is also a part of Carnival celebrations outside of the Caribbean, with the biggest celebrations happening in cities with large Caribbean ex-pat communities.[10][11]

  1. ^ Winer, Lise (2009-01-16). Dictionary of the English/Creole of Trinidad & Tobago: On Historical Principles. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. ISBN 978-0-7735-7607-0.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Riggio, Milla Cozart (2004-10-14). Carnival: Culture in Action – The Trinidad Experience. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-48780-6.
  4. ^ "A J'Ouvert bacchanal". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
  5. ^ Cowley, John (1998). Carnival, Canboulay and Calypso: Traditions in the Making. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-65389-3.
  6. ^ McTighe, Elena (2011-11-01). "Carnival Caribbean style". PSA Journal. 77 (11): 30–34.
  7. ^ a b Wheaton, Vicki (2019-04-25). "Jump up for J'Ouvert! Night parade of mud, paint and merriment returns". Cayman Compass. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
  8. ^ Green, Garth L.; Scher, Philip W. (2007-03-28). Trinidad Carnival: The Cultural Politics of a Transnational Festival. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-11672-7.
  9. ^ Mason, Peter (1998). Bacchanal!: The Carnival Culture of Trinidad. Temple University Press. ISBN 978-1-56639-663-9.
  10. ^ "J'Ouvert Parade". NYC.gov. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  11. ^ "In pictures: Fifty years of the Notting Hill Carnival". BBC News. 28 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2019.