Traditional Mas Characters - Authentic Indians
Photos and research courtesy the Carnival Institute of Trinidad and Tobago (CITT).
Authentic Indians – Tries to give an actual or true representation of Native American Indian Wear.
Traditional Mas Characters - Blue Indians
(Photo courtesy Abraham Diaz, Trinidad Guardian, Sunday January 5, 2014)
Blue Indians – Similar to the Red Indian Mas but with an elaborate costume with the predominant colour being blue.
Traditional Mas Characters - Fancy Indian
Photos and research courtesy the Carnival Institute of Trinidad and Tobago (CITT).
Fancy Indian – An imaginative and elaborate form, the Fancy Indian is the most popular variety of Indian Mas. This form of Indian Mas is non-authentic; one of its main features being large decorated headpieces.
Traditional Mas Characters - Black Indians
Photos and research courtesy the Carnival Institute of Trinidad and Tobago (CITT).
Black Indians – Combines certain elements of the Red Indian with some African derived elements. They dress predominantly in black with other colours. Their faces are also painted black. They have their own distinctive speech.
Indians are one of the most colourful and interesting of the traditional mas characters; containing elaborate feathered headpieces sometimes built over bamboo or wire frames. The headpiece is supported by a structure that covers the masquerader's entire body. Indian Mas may incorporate any number of effects including papier-mâché masks, canoes, ostrich plumes, mirrors, beads, feather work, totem poles, and ribbons.
Traditional Mas Characters - Pierrot Grenade
Pierrot Grenade
Photos courtesy the Carnival Institute of Trinidad and Tobago (CITT)
The Pierrot Grenade is the satirical descendant of the Pierrot – a finely dressed masquerader and deeply learned scholar. Pierrot Grenade falls under the category of Old Time Carnival and is the supreme jester in Trinidad Carnival. His name shows his strong connection to Grenada.
His costume is made by attaching multicoloured pieces of cloth to his gown-like outfit. In the old days, he wore a wire mesh mask over his face, and old hat with shrubbery attached, or simply tied his head with a handkerchief. Nowadays, however, the face is painted instead of the mask and a hood worn over the head. The Pierrot Grenade delights in displaying his knowledge and ability to spell any word. He prances and twirls about carrying a whip made of guava or hibiscus.
