Want to heat things up this summer?
Why not check out the Toronto Caribbean Carnival festivities happening around the city. This festival, previously known as CaribanaTM, first occurred in 1967. It was introduced to Canada during the Centennial celebration. Immigrants from many parts of the Caribbean came together to put on a spectacular parade. Volunteering their time, creativity, and money, people from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana, St. Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, 
St. Vincent, to name a few, collaborated to birth an extravaganza that is like no other in North America. Since its humble beginnings, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival has grown to become one of North America’s largest street festivals. Here are a few events that you won’t want to miss! Pan Alive, which takes place on Friday, July 31st at Lamport Stadium.
The BIG parade is happening on Saturday, August 1st, 2015 at Exhibition Place & Lakeshore Blvd. This cultural fiesta keeps the rhythm of the Pan Am games moving through colourful costumes, lively dance and rhythmic beats. FREE to attend by lining up along the Lakeshore Parade route.
Before you get ready to ‘jump and wave’, take this short Carnival Quiz!
1) The origin of the word calypso is from:
a) Carrousseaux – the French term for a drinking party
b) Caliso – a Spanish word meaning topical song
c) Carieto – a Carib word meaning 'a joyous song'
d) Kaiso – a west African Hausa word which means 'bravo'
2) What are the three key concepts of Toronto Caribbean Carnival?
a) Mas, Steel Pan and Calypso
b) Love, Peace and Unity
c) Heritage, Music and Food
d) There is no concept, everyone just have a good time!
3) Which famous Canadian volunteered at the very first CaribanaTM Festival?
a) Fergie Jenkins
b) Lester B. Pearson
c) Dr. Rita Cox
d) Lincoln M. Alexander
4) What are traditional Steel Pans made of?
a) Pop tins, melted down and molded
b) The bottom of 55 gallon oil drums
c) Flexible metalloids
d) Low-density polyethylene, also used in outdoor furniture
Answers are after this photo
Answers
1 d) Kaiso – The roots of Calypso are hard to trace. The word first appeared in print in 1900 but that was after the music appeared on the scene. The most favoured explanation is that calypso comes from the West African Hausa word meaning ‘bravo’, a term of approval that is shouted in calypso tents to this day.
2 a) Mas, Steel Pan and Calypso – The Mas or masquerade is the kaleidoscope of colour of the parade, the Steel Pan is the rhythmic pulse of the bands and Calypso is the main musical message.
3 c) Dr. Rita Cox – Dr. Cox was there at the very beginning, sealing envelopes for the festival after school! Who knew that she would go on to become a librarian, storyteller, founder of the Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection and be appointed a Member of the Order of Canada?
4 b) The bottom of 55 gallon oil drums. Did you know that Steel Pans (steel drums) were created in Trinidad in the 1930s, but steel pan history can be traced back to the enslaved Africans who were brought to the islands during the 1700s?
So if you got all four questions correct, KAISO!
Want to know more? Toronto Public Library has several Carnival themed books, CDs and DVDs that are sure to please. Toronto Caribbean Carnival: A tribute is a must read if you would like a quick overview of this wonderful festival in all its vibrancy.
Images courtesy caribanatoronto.com, torontocaribbeancarnival.com and torontograndprixtourist.com
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