Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine October 2018 | Page 552

Sugar Mas
Sugar Mas Nov 16 - Jan 5
Christmas and New Year in St. Kitts are extra special. There’s the usual Christmas
shopping, baking, parties, caroling, and family get-togethers, even Santa would make
an odd appearance here and there, but the most electrifying thing of all for this time
of year, is the island’s carnival - its Sugar Mas. This makes a St. Kitts Christmas vacation
especially unique.
Sugar mas is a proud expression of the island’s heritage, a blend of African, European
and Caribbean-ness all colourfully expressed. There will be no Sugar Mas without
the traditional Bull, Moko-Jumbie, Masquerade and Clowns. These folkloric displays,
comedic plays and stilt-walkers are an integral part of the island’s historical cultural
expression, but traditional mas is only one aspect of carnival in St. Kitts.
Ancient blends into modern and together they paint a rich, captivating picture. A
kaleidoscope of colour, music, pageants , masqueraders, music trucks, soca, calypso,
steel band, feathers - an electrifying blur of action, street dancing, food, drink, laughter,
excitement! There is no escaping from the grasp of that mesmerizing carnival feeling.
And, in the midst of it all, there’s Christmas and New Year celebrations!