Carnival

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An annual celebration

 

Each year, towns and villages across Wales hold a carnival.  It is a day of fun and merriment with the community coming together for a celebration.  How many of us have dressed as fairies, princesses, action men or pirates for the day and enjoyed the carnival procession and a day of activities?  Who has been lucky enough to be crowned ‘Carnival Queen’ or ‘Rose Princess’?

An international tradition

 

Carnival exists in most cultures around the world and usually involves a community celebration with elements of masquerade, parading and flamboyant costumes.  Carnivals were traditionally held before Lent in order to use up the rich foods in store-cupboards before the season of fasting began.  It is said that the word carnival originated from the Latin expression ‘carne vale’ or ‘farewell to meat’.  In some cultures, carnival season lasts for weeks and comes to an end on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday known as Mardi Gras or ‘Fat Tuesday’, known more commonly in Britain as Pancake Day.

A more tame occasion

 

Today, carnivals are held throughout the year, often in the summer months in Wales in the hope of some fine weather.  The origin of carnivals in Wales can be linked to the ‘Gwyl Mabsant’, an annual celebration of the local parish saint.  Initially, this celebration was a dedication through prayer but gradually it developed into a wider range of recreational activities that were often a combination of betting, feasting and alcohol consumption.  Sporting events such as cockfighting and bando, an early form of hockey, were popular at such celebrations.

 

As Nonconformity took hold in Wales and a string of religious revivals swept across the country, such merriment and sporting activities were condemned as sinful and worthless.  The effect was such that the traditions of the Mabsant festivities were largely forgotten.

 

Today, carnivals are held as a community get-together, often with the intention of raising money for a local charity or cause.  The elements of fun, costume and revelry remain but the links to the traditional meanings are generally lost.