Carnival Is Woman
If you're from the Caribbean, then you probably understand this better than most. The three major elements of any carnival are: dressing in masquerade, music, and dancing. This is constant regardless of the Caribbean territory. Think elaborate costumes, masks, feathers, headdresses, dancing, music, and drums, along with raucous behavior. Men can get away with a shorts and a t-shirt (or none), but for the Women... it's gonna be a production on Beyonce's level. An entire carnival support industry was created just to support women. One of the unspoken rules as a woman playing mas (Jamaican's say Jumping Carnival) is that whatever you're prepared to spend on your costume, be prepared to spend about half as much on getting ready: Think Carnival Boots, Carnival Makeup , Hair, Body Bronzing, Waxing, Nails, Stockings , Gloss for the road , Carnival Pouch, and possibly a photoshoot before you hit the road. Women start to get ready for Carnival from as early as midnight.