What Is The Carnival of French Guiana?
- It is the world's longest carnival.
- It can go on for months.
- The Carnival of French Guiana is very colorful.
- The carnival includes street parades and the party atmosphere.
- The carnival brings the whole country to a stop.
- Drinking champagne and eating Gallete Des Rois (the cake of kings) is a tradition of the carnival.
Who Goes To The Carnival?
- Everyone!
- Mainland French, Brazilians, and Chinese as well as Creoles all attend the carnival.
When Is It?
- Begins at Epiphany and ends on Ash Wednesday, typically lasts most of January and February.
- During this time, from Friday evening until Monday morning the entire country participates in masked balls and street parades.
- Normal life pretty much stops...
People At The Carnival
- People dress up as mythical characters.
- Performing groups in the parade prepare for months.
- Brazilian groups have elaborate feathered and sequined costumes.
- The costumes do not change. They have the same costumes every year.
What Do People Do At The Carnival?
- On Friday afternoons, it is time for eating galette des rois (the cake of the kings) and drinking champagne. The cake could be flavored with frangipani which is a tropical american tree, guava, or coconut.
- On Sunday afternoons, the major parades begin. They have carnival floats, drums, and brass bands. Brazilian groups have elaborate feathered and sequined costumes.
Large Dances
Touloulous
- There are also large dances where women called touloulous wear highly decorative gowns, gloves, masks, and headdresses which covers them completely.
- Women do not have to pay admittance but the men do.
- The men are not disguised.
- The girls pick who they want to dance with and the men can not refuse.
- Undisguised women are not allowed at the ball and if they try and dance the orchaestra stops playing.
Final 4 Days Of The Carnival
Tuesday: Red Devil Day
- No work is done at all.
- Sunday: The Grand Parade.
- Monday: Marriage Burlesque: Men dress up as brides and women dress up as grooms.
- Tuesday: Red Devil Day: Everyone wears red and black.
- Ash Wednesday: Dress black or white only for the grand ceremony.