Junkanoo Carnival—Pain or Opportunity
Barrington H. Brennen, May 7, 2015
PDF Format
 |
|
Barrington H. Brennen |
|
Dear readers, these are views (so far) on the Christian’s
response to Junkanoo Carnival, The Bahamas. My
contact information is below this article.
Note carefully this article is a very long and you would
need to read right to the end to get my full views (at least
for now). In essence, Christians, don’t go to Carnival.
But . . . continue reading.)
There were many who have been
praying that it rains, and rains heavily to prevent Junkanoo
Carnival. That truth is that will not stop it. Carnival
will go on, even in the rain. That might make it even more
exciting for many. In an article in the Nassau Guardian for
May 7, 2015 entitled “Carnival will go on ‘rain or
shine,’ the author,” Krystel Rolle-Brown quotes a
Carnival organizer stating:
“Rain or shine, it’s going to happen . . . There is nothing
we can do about that. Some of the best concerts were
enjoyed in the rain. What I suggest you do is bring a
pancho when you come, or wear a bikini and bring a towel.”
I want to share right up front
my limited knowledge of the Adventist Church and Carnival
(This might be the same with most protestant and evangelical churches). I
have relatives or friends who live in Brazil, Trinidad, St
Maarten, and Jamaica. Note carefully that in Brazil, if an
Adventist attends Carnival it is grounds to be dropped from
membership. That’s how serious it is. It is similar in
Trinidad. The Adventist Youth Department in Trinidad and
Brazil organizes events, camps, etc, at the time of Carnival
to divert the young people away from Carnival. Carnival is
considered a very serious breach of Adventist Christian
conduct and behavior. Based on my observations of the
plans for Junkanoo Carnival it will not be any different
than in Trinidad except (hopefully) for the topless (nudity)
dancing of women in the streets in Brazil and nude body
painting in Trinidad.
Carnival is not like Junkanoo
(Although I am not celebrating Junkanoo here, I just want to
be objective). Junkanoo is tame compared to Carnival.
Carnival is known to have an atmosphere of unfettered
freedom, lots alcohol, masquerades, semi nudity to nudity,
and parties on the streets for long periods at a time. In
fact, the use of masks is a natural part of Carnival. Hide
yourself and do what you like. This will be the same in
The Bahamas as announced by the organizers. We will see.
On the Junkanoo Carnival
website the cost of the costumes rage from $400 to
$800
which participants must purchase to be a part of certain
parades, except the giant concert to be on Fort Charlotte.
Click
HERE
to see the type of costumes one can purchase. There are 30
different designs or costumes groups. All of which reveal
lots of body skin in both male and female. Even the names
of the costume groups you might find interesting:
Bahamas Masquerades
Barabbas Carnival Tribe
Caribbean Sweat
Chickcharney
Cirque Fever
Colours Festival
Eden
Empire of Love
Enigma
Euphoria Madness |
Explosion
Friends of Gus
Fun
Fusion
Indigenous
JunkaBrations
Junkanoo Carnival Freaks
Junkanoo Commandos
Karisma
Magic |
Rhythms Bahamas
Sidjoyney
Spilligate
Starz
Sting
The Eutopians
The Grand Bahama Cultural
Vibes
Vindi Dynasty
Xtasy
Xtreme |
This master concert will run
all night. Yah! So have you ear plugs. The festivals and
concerts will be going from midday through early morning. The cost
range from $15 to $100. Liquor, beer, rum, will be a big
part of Carnival. According to one source, the costume
package contains a bottle liquor and a pack of condoms (need
to verify).
WHEN AND WHERE DID CARNIVAL START?
We all know that in Catholic
countries it is most popular. It is a grand festival before
lent in January and February. Here is what one author said
about Carnival: “Tell the people to engage in revelry
debauchery, wine and dance. After which ash Wednesday world
wide churches are filled to capacity where, sinners of
yesterday can find pardon today, with a little indulgences
of course, for salvation tomorrow.”
Here is more:
“Where did the word “carnival” come from? Hundreds and
hundreds of years ago, the followers of the Catholic
religion in Italy started the tradition of holding a wild
costume festival right before the first day of Lent. Because
Catholics are not supposed to eat meat during Lent, they
called their festival, carnevale — which means “to put away
the meat.” As time passed, carnivals in Italy became quite
famous; and in fact the practice spread to France, Spain,
and all the Catholic countries in Europe. Then as the
French, Spanish, and Portuguese began to take control of the
Americas and other parts of the world, they brought with
them their tradition of celebrating carnival.
The dynamic economic and political history of the Caribbean
are indeed the ingredients of festival arts as we find them
today throughout the African and Caribbean Diaspora. Once
Columbus had steered his boat through Caribbean waters, it
was only a few hundred years before the slave trade was well
established. By the early 19th century, some six million
slaves had been brought to the Caribbean. Between 1836 and
1917, indentured workers from Europe, west and central
Africa, southern China, and India were brought to the
Caribbean as laborers.”
Carnival was introduced to Trinidad around 1785,
as the French settlers began to arrive. The tradition caught
on quickly, and fancy balls were held where the wealthy
planters put on masks, wigs, and beautiful dresses and
danced long into the night. The use of masks had special
meaning for the slaves, because for many African peoples,
masking is widely used in their rituals for the dead.
Obviously banned from the masked balls of the French, the
slaves would hold their own little carnivals in their
backyards — using their own rituals and folklore, but also
imitating their masters’ behavior at the masked balls. For
African people, carnival became a way to express their power
as individuals, as well as their rich cultural traditions.
After 1838 (when slavery was abolished), the freed Africans
began to host their own carnival celebrations in the streets
that grew more and more elaborate, and soon became more
popular than the balls.
Today, carnival in Trinidad is like a mirror that reflects
the faces the many immigrants who have come to this island
nation from Europe, Africa, India, and China. African,
Asian, and American Indian influences have been particularly
strong.” Excerpts taken from article entitled “All Ah We
. . .
Building Bridges Through Culture”
What about Fat Tuesday? You might find this interesting.
Many of us Carnival virgins are totally naďve on the
subject. Here is what Wikipedia says:
Fat Tuesday, in English refers to events of the Carnival
celebrations, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of
the Epiphany (Three King's Day) and culminating on the day
before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat
Tuesday", reflecting the practice of the last night of
eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the
Lenten season.
It seems to be obvious that Junkanoo Carnival is not
connected to any religious festival. However, all the
regular Carnival trappings (costumes, heaven rhythm music,
revelry, masquerade, alcohol) are still present. Let's
watch as it is unfolded.
TEACH PERSONAL
CENSORSHIP
Junkanoo Carnival is here now so what are we to do as
Christians? I know many Christians would like to march
against Carnival. Or many would like to ban it. Yes, I am
truly disappointed Carnival is here because of its potential
damage to our social fabric. If Carnival remains and become
imbedded in our culture, what should the church do? Should
we protest?
I have written a few articles on censorship regarding
another topic but its principles are the same. The
discussion about banning not banning Junkanoo Carnival is
really about censorship. Here is an important principle.
The church is to teach personal censorship and not national
censorship. What do I mean by that? While I believe we
can and do have our views and concerns about Carnival we must
keep in mind that personal choice, freedom to choose, is
what matters most and what facilitates the spread of
Christianity at its best. I also think that the Christian
church is too often trying to “coerce” the citizens to
follow its practices. This should not be so. This also is
the tension we have Christianity and its role in the
world. We must be salt but too much salt causes
hypertension. Read on.
Several years ago I wrote an article on
censorship. It was a response to pornography,
etc..
However, you can easily apply the principles to Carnival.
Here are some excerpts from my articles:
“The challenge I have is when individuals pressure the
Church or an association of churches to force the government
to require all citizens to have the same values and
practices. While some may not want to put pornography
(and Carnival) in this category, I cannot but logically
admit that although porn (Carnival) can be considered
evil, government cannot legislate moral and individual
values. These are personal decisions.”
“The role of the church is to expose the Gospel and not to
impose the Gospel. . .
This is the
gospel that impacts every-day living—the mental, spiritual,
physical, and social. This is the gospel that motivates
not just extrinsic behavior but also intrinsic values that
transcend the immoral and social pressures
in society. This is the gospel that teaches how to
recognize the stupidity of immorality so that the learners
can apply it to their lives. This gospel does not teach
arrogance and pride where its followers believe that their
righteous behavior automatically gives them brownie points
for the kingdom.”
“What then should be the church’s approach when it comes to
what it calls moral issues in society—pornography, gambling,
legalizing of marijuana, nude clubs, etc It is my view that
the church must first make sure its members are practicing
pure Biblical living standards and that they are living that
way simply because it is a result of a loving relationship
with Jesus, and nothing more. The wise Christian knows,
that in this sinful world, the bottom line is that Jesus
saves and not the absence of pornography or gambling in
one’s life. In addition, the wise Christian knows that
Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, gives the power
to avoid pornography, gambling, etc. Good church leaders
do not simply tell their congregants that pornography or
gambling is wrong, but teach them how to know for themselves
the dangers or risk factors. When Jesus says do not do
something there is usually a real practical reason behind
it. Hence members are better equipped to withstand the
onslaught of immorality in society.”
“The only role of the church as an organization is to ensure
fair play and religious liberty for all. The Christian
Church is to ensure that all faiths/religions, including
those that are non-Christian, have the freedom to grow, and
proclaim their teachings without fear, intimidation, or
ridicule. No government should make laws to prevent
that. Should it be the same with pornography and
gambling? Or at least shouldn’t the government allow the
people to speak on these matters? It is my view, and mine
alone, that the church should have a loud voice on moral
issues or immoral living but first through the loud “voices”
of the holy lifestyles of their followers and not through
forced legislation.
How are these thoughts of mine related to carnival.
While I wish and many of you wish that there will be no
Carnival I restate what I did in the Nassau Guardian in 2004
“ I prefer
personal censorship any day than legislative censorship. We
do have a limited kind of legislative censorship already
through our national film board for movies shown in our
theaters. That is good. But we need to move forward with
caution. Christians, stand up with your godly lifestyle.
Its effects will last through eternity. Its practices will
transcend illicit, immoral, and illegal behavior.”
Dear readers, these are
certainly signs that the end is near. The Adventist
Christian is to live a Godly life. The Adventist Christian
is to influence others around him/her by Christ-like,
loving, kind, behavior. “This shall all people know that
you are my disciples if we love one another.” In 2014 I
wrote something quite provocative for some readers regarding
religious freedom. It is "When the church insists that the
country have laws that express “Christian values” it might
be barking up the wrong tree. While many national laws are
similar to Biblical principles, Biblical laws are not by
default national mandates."
I would be ashamed if any
Adventist (or any other Christian) is seen participating in Junkanoo Carnival. If
this festival continues as an annual tradition, the
Adventist Church might have to do like Brazil and Trinidad
by having activities during the time of Junkanoo Carnival to
attract our young people, and older ones to. These are
certainly the last days.
While
I am “against” Carnival, this might be an opportunity to
propel us to be more creative by providing meaningful,
practical activities for your youth. We must think out of
the box. Do not focus on “getting rid of Carnival” we might
embarrassingly loose that battle. Instead, focus on
building Godly lives.
“Adventist Christians and those of other faiths, stand up
with your godly lifestyle. Its effect will last throughout
eternity. Its practices will transcend illicit, immoral,
and illegal behavior.” Expose the gospel but do not impose
it. “Let’s make the gospel attractive by our lifestyle and
the Junkanoo Carnival less attractive by our Godly
attitude.”
Amidst the thorny prongs of life that cause pain, let our
lives reveal beautiful flowers of God's grace, mercy, and
redeeming love.
Related articles:
"I
Am Happy We are Not a Christian Nation"
"The Constitution is For Everyone"
"Pornography and Censorship"
Barrington Brennen:
barringtonbrennen@gmail.com., 1-242-327-1980, or P.O.
Box CB-13019, Nassau, The Bahamas
