Batabano (officially called Cayman Carnival Batabano) is the name of the

Caribbean Carnival Caribbean Carnival is the term used in the English speaking world for a series of events, held annually throughout almost the whole year in many Caribbean islands and worldwide. The Caribbean's carnivals have several common themes, all originati ...

held in the

Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands () is a self-governing British Overseas Territory—the largest by population in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which are located to the ...

. The festival takes place annually during the first week of May in George Town. Batabano is a time for people of all different descents to gather with a common interest and celebrate community spirit. The

are home to over 100 different nationalities, all brought together and embraced by the festival. It is a cultural celebration filled with music, dance, and elaborate costumes that reflect the landscapes, heritage, and culture. International interest is growing in the Batabano celebrations, despite only having existed for about 30 years.

History

The

Rotary Club Rotary International is one of the largest service organizations in the world. Its stated mission is to "provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through hefellowship of business, prof ...

launched the first Cayman Carnival Batabano celebration in 1983. The celebration has always been held in early May. Donna Myrie-Stephen is the chair of a volunteer committee that has been in charge of organizing Batabano for the past 15 years. She is now considered the face of Batabano. Myrie-Stephen was crowned Miss Cayman Islands in 1981, and later named the

International Sweetheart.

Carnival Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival t ...

celebrations originated in Europe during the Pre-Lent period. Throughout history, Carnival celebrations in the Caribbean have been symbolic of transgression from European control. As they were brought over to the Caribbean colonies, some countries adapted the

to be their own, often by varying the time of year. Cayman Batabano was established more recently than other carnivals, as it is only entering its 34th year. Green_sea_turtle_FWS_6630

The name of the celebration comes from the nation's turtling heritage. The word “Batabano” refers to the tracks that are left in the sand when the turtles come onto the beach to nest. The tracks are reason to celebrate because they signify that the turtle population is replenishing itself. Turtles have always been an important part of Caymanian heritage; in the 1600s and 1700s, the islands became an important stop for ships due to the abundant population of

green sea turtle The green sea turtle (''Chelonia mydas''), also known as the green turtle, black (sea) turtle or Pacific green turtle, is a species of large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus ''Chelonia''. Its range exten ...

s. The turtle population has diminished significantly due to excessive hunting, but it still remains an important symbol of the

Batabano celebrations

Cayman Carnival Batabano celebrations take place on two separate weekends, one is a child-friendly, family-style festival, and the other is the more traditional adult-focused celebration.

Adult Batabano

The Adult Batabano celebrations take place in one of the first weekends in May. It features a road parade composed, for the most part, of Masquerade Bands, and exotic costumes. The celebrations start around midday, and the parade launches at 1pm from Public Beach to Harbour Drive. The parade passes a number of Batabano hot spots along its famous route. Judges are located near the Governor’s house for the final judging of costumes. Many other events take place on the day of Batabano, including the bazaar and street party. The street party begins at 6pm and usually features nine DJs across three stages. The bazaar is located at Cardinal Avenue and Albert Panton Street.

Junior Batabano

Junior Batabano was first introduced in 2002, adding a more family-friendly aspect to the celebration. By 2005, Junior Batabano had evolved from a singular program that was held before the adult parade, to an event that spans an entire day. Children participate in a parade, which ends with a panel of pageant judges who are tasked with awarding the best junior band. The local schools' PTAs organize face painting, mask decorating, and food stalls for after the parade. Junior Batabano typically takes place a week before the adult parade and celebration.

Music

Batabano typically features

soca music Soca music is a genre of music defined by Lord Shorty, its inventor, as the "Soul of Calypso", which has influences of African and East Indian rhythms. It was originally spelt "sokah" by its inventor but through an error in a local newspaper ...

- a type of

calypso music Calypso is a style of Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago during the early to the mid-19th century and spread to the rest of the Caribbean Antilles and Venezuela by the mid-20th century. Its rhythms can be traced back to Wes ...

with elements of

soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun '' soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest att ...

. The lyrics usually are about life or politics, feeding into the idea that Batabano celebrates social justice. Masquerade bands are extremely popular at the Batabano celebrations. Some include Carnival Nationz, and Tribal Cayman. The bands for the upcoming carnival are announced at the “All Ah We” band launch. This event is held months before the Batabano celebrations begin.

Costumes

Batabano is known for its extravagant costumes. The Masquerade Bands that partake in the parade use costumes to highlight their performances. At the end of both the Junior and Adult parade, the best costumes of the year are recognized and awarded. Traditional men’s costumes include shorts, feathered headdresses, and jeweled neck pieces and cuffs. Women’s full costume usually includes a multicolored bikini, feather headdresses, leg pieces, and extra tail feathers. Corsets and capes are offered as optional extras. Costumes are debuted along with the Masquerade Bands at the "All Ah We" band launch. The Junior Batabano costumes are slightly less extravagant and tend to cover more skin.

Reba Dilbert

Reba Dilbert is a popular costume designer on the island. She is known for creating large and exotic pieces. Her costumes have been featured at over 30 Batabano celebrations. The costumes are designed to reflect the flora, fauna, and marine life of the

. Blue costumes represent the island’s water, and green costumes represent the environment. Dilbert has expressed her intentions to design costumes that will offer more coverage than in previous years. Her plan is to take the nakedness away from Batabano and focus more on the bright colors and themes of the costumes. In 1998, Dilbert was nominated for Outstanding Work in Costume Design by the

Cayman National Cultural Foundation The Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF) is the official arts council for the Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands () is a self-governing British Overseas Territory—the largest by population in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory co ...

, and in 2002 she won the Best National Costume in the Miss Bikini World (

Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...

) and Miss Tourism World (

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula ...

) pageants.

Makeup

Makeup is an important feature of the Batabano costumes. Bright colors and glitter are often used to accent the costumes, and darker makeup looks can be used to contrast the costumes. Feather

eyelash extensions Eyelash extensions are a cosmetics, cosmetic enhancement that involves attaching synthetic or natural hair fibers to the natural Eyelash, eyelashes to create a fuller, more dramatic look. They are applied by a professional using a specialized adhe ...

made to match the costumes are a popular look. Kadian Edie is a makeup artist in the

who specializes in tribal tattoos around the eyes, which give a dramatic element to the costumes. They are created using

lace Lace is a delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open weblike pattern, made by machine or by hand. Generally, lace is divided into two main categories, needlelace and bobbin lace, although there are other types of lace, such as knitted o ...

and other stencils, and an airbrush.

What to expect

Donna Myrie-Stephen, head of Cayman Carnival Batabano, plans to include neighboring islands in the Batabano celebrations in coming years. It is thought that this will draw an even larger international crowd, and inspire contestants to create even more extravagant costumes. If Myrie-Stephen is successful, then Cayman Batabano will grow to an even more internationally recognized celebration of local heritage and culture than it already is.

References

External links

Cayman Carnival official site
{{Carnival around the world , state=collapsed Folk festivals in the Cayman Islands Caymanian culture Recurring events established in 1984 1984 establishments in North America Carnivals in the Cayman Islands