juliamhammond

Jacmel carnival, Haiti

Each February, the southern Haitian town of Jacmel celebrates carnival in style. Here’s some photos from yesterday’s event.

Plenty of characters on the street before the main event

Plenty of characters on the street before the main event; this one’s Tonton Bicha

The best place to watch the parade is from the specially constructed wooden balconies on the main street

The best place to watch the parade is from the specially constructed wooden balconies on the main street

Colourful dancer getting into the groove

Colourful dancer getting into the groove

The costumes are amazing

The costumes are amazing

Impressive how much energy they have in the Caribbean heat

Impressive how much energy they have in the Caribbean heat

Carnival queen

Carnival queen

What every well-dressed donkey is wearing this season...

What every well-dressed donkey is wearing this season…

Political comment also has its place

Political comment also has its place

Loving how they've tippexed out their grammar mistake

Loving how they’ve tippexed out their grammar mistake

Most of them cleared the jump - except one!

Most of them cleared the jump – except one!

Papier mâché figures are what Jacmel's known for

Papier mâché figures are what Jacmel’s known for

Half king, half Santa, this figure is called "Papa Jwif"

Half king, half Santa, this figure is called “Papa Jwif”

The "Yawe" - a cowhide that's beaten (with some vigour!) in a recreation of a Taino hunting scene.

The “Yawe” – a cowhide that’s beaten (with some vigour!) in a recreation of a Taino hunting scene

The clacking sound of the wooden wings of the "Mathurin" bat-devils is distinctive

The clacking sound of the wooden wings of the “Mathurin” bat-devils is distinctive

The scariest characters are the "Lanset Kod" - covered in charcoal dust and cane syrup they run amok through the crowds smearing as many people as possible with their gunk

The scariest characters are the “Lanset Kod” – covered in charcoal dust and cane syrup they run amok through the crowds smearing as many people as possible with their gunk

This entry was posted on February 9, 2015 by . It was filed under Destination information, Independent travel, Latin America & the Caribbean .

7 responses

  1. Wilbur's Travels

    Looked like it was an awesome day

    Liked by 1 person

    February 9, 2015 at 5:32 pm

  2. Paul Clammer (@paulclammer)

    Great photos, I wish I could have been there this year! I love Jacmel Carnival.

    The guy in your first photo, is in costume too incidentally – he’s dressed up as Tonton Bicha, the popular Haitian comedian.

    Like

    February 12, 2015 at 8:45 am

    • juliamhammond

      I did wonder, I thought he might be some kind of pirate character. Thanks for the info.

      Like

      February 12, 2015 at 12:22 pm

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  4. Johnny Friskilä

    Seems very nice! Anything in particular I need to think of if I want to visit the carnival in Jacmel?

    Like

    February 5, 2017 at 10:05 am

    • juliamhammond

      Hi Johnny! Yes, accommodation is in really short supply so you either have to book really far in advance and pay high prices or be able to travel. I found a place on AirBnB which was just out of town but connected by the converted minivans. It’s a great carnival so I hope you do get there – it’s a riot of colour and a lot of fun. Happy travels!

      Like

      February 5, 2017 at 4:25 pm