2. Notting Hill Carnival  Every August London is home to the great Notting Hill Carnival – the largest arts festival in Europe and second largest carnival in the world. It is a fantastic event which is open to everyone and is absolutely free! The Carnival has been held on the last weekend of August since 1966. The Carnival has been held on the last weekend of August since 1966.

3. HISTORY This great festival has its roots in the carnivals of the Caribbean, especially Trinidad. This great festival has its roots in the carnivals of the Caribbean, especially Trinidad. In the 1800s, during the days of slavery and the British Empire, many black slaves were brought to Trinidad from Africa. They worked on sugar plantation and their life was very hard. In the 1800s, during the days of slavery and the British Empire, many black slaves were brought to Trinidad from Africa. They worked on sugar plantation and their life was very hard.

4. HISTORY Their white masters didn’t allow them to sing, dance or wear their national costumes. They were even forbidden to be in the streets after dark. The only time the slaves were allowed to play musical instruments was during the imported European Carnival that was held six weeks before Easter. But even then, black people could only take part in it to entertain their white masters. Their white masters didn’t allow them to sing, dance or wear their national costumes. They were even forbidden to be in the streets after dark. The only time the slaves were allowed to play musical instruments was during the imported European Carnival that was held six weeks before Easter. But even then, black people could only take part in it to entertain their white masters.

5. HISTORY In 1833, when slavery was abolished, the slaves stormed to the streets to celebrate their freedom. The slaves who had had cruel masters made masks and costumes to make fun of them. It was their first real opportunity to express their feelings about slavery and they did it through dancing and singing. In 1833, when slavery was abolished, the slaves stormed to the streets to celebrate their freedom. The slaves who had had cruel masters made masks and costumes to make fun of them. It was their first real opportunity to express their feelings about slavery and they did it through dancing and singing.

6. HISTORY Soon people from all over Trinidad started to take part in these street celebrations. They became experts in the art of costume making, steel drumming and calypso ( a folk song telling a story). Soon people from all over Trinidad started to take part in these street celebrations. They became experts in the art of costume making, steel drumming and calypso ( a folk song telling a story).

7. HISTORY In the 1950 – 60s many Trinidadians emigrated to Britain in the hope of getting job and making a home. They made good nurses, conductors and drivers, but many of them were unemployed. Life was hard for them as there was a lot of racism and inequality. Besides, they missed the warmth and the blue skies of the Caribbean. On one day, remembering their great festivals back home, the Trinidadians decided to organise a street procession in Notting Hill to boost their spirits. In the 1950 – 60s many Trinidadians emigrated to Britain in the hope of getting job and making a home. They made good nurses, conductors and drivers, but many of them were unemployed. Life was hard for them as there was a lot of racism and inequality. Besides, they missed the warmth and the blue skies of the Caribbean. On one day, remembering their great festivals back home, the Trinidadians decided to organise a street procession in Notting Hill to boost their spirits.

8. CARNIVAL TODAY From that small procession through the streets with just a few people in costume laying music and dancing in the 1960s, a huge multi-cultural arts festival has involved. Up to two million people attend it every year! From that small procession through the streets with just a few people in costume laying music and dancing in the 1960s, a huge multi-cultural arts festival has involved. Up to two million people attend it every year!

9. CARNIVAL TODAY Today’s festival has many of the original elements of the Trinidad Carnival. The most popular of these are the costume parade, the calypso and soca bands. Soca is a more recent musical form and it is very popular. It is a mixture of soul and calypso that has been adapted by second, third and even fourth generation Caribbeans. It is now the music of Notting Hill Carnival Today’s festival has many of the original elements of the Trinidad Carnival. The most popular of these are the costume parade, the calypso and soca bands. Soca is a more recent musical form and it is very popular. It is a mixture of soul and calypso that has been adapted by second, third and even fourth generation Caribbeans. It is now the music of Notting Hill Carnival

10. CARNIVAL TODAY Musicians and artists from all over the world take part in the Carnival. There have been groups from as far as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil and even Russia. Everybody is welcome! Musicians and artists from all over the world take part in the Carnival. There have been groups from as far as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil and even Russia. Everybody is welcome! Although the Carnival aims to celebrate the cultural traditions of its founders, it’s open to all modern trends. Although the Carnival aims to celebrate the cultural traditions of its founders, it’s open to all modern trends.

11. CARNIVAL FOOD The other thing that the Carnival is famous for its food. You can try out goat curry, fried bananas, coconut juice, and the legendary jerk chicken – with more hot spices than you have ever thought possible. The other thing that the Carnival is famous for its food. You can try out goat curry, fried bananas, coconut juice, and the legendary jerk chicken – with more hot spices than you have ever thought possible.

12. NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL’S MOTTO The motto of the Notting Hill Carnival is “Every Spectator is a participant”, so tourists and visitors are invited to join in and dance. The motto of the Notting Hill Carnival is “Every Spectator is a participant”, so tourists and visitors are invited to join in and dance.

13. POLICEMEN’S HARD WORK There is only one group of people who don’t enjoy the Carnival, and these are policemen. For them, the Carnival is two days of very hard work. With a busy event like that, safety of participants is very important. Crowd control is a major concern. Things like providing enough toilets are also not to be overlooked! The Carnival is also a great place for pickpockets. There is only one group of people who don’t enjoy the Carnival, and these are policemen. For them, the Carnival is two days of very hard work. With a busy event like that, safety of participants is very important. Crowd control is a major concern. Things like providing enough toilets are also not to be overlooked! The Carnival is also a great place for pickpockets.

14. CARNIVAL CODE Enjoy! Enjoy Carnival – Jump and Chill Come early, leave early Plan your travel arrangements but be flexible Be safe! Tell the police if you see an incident Stay with your friends Look out for your kids – it gets very crowded! Each year, the police issue the carnival Code, Each year, the police issue the carnival Code, a set of rules which all participants are advised to follow. a set of rules which all participants are advised to follow.

15. CARNIVAL CODE Respect! Stay away if you plan to cause trouble Respect others: don’t be the 1% that ruins carnivals for others Keep the neighbourhood clean Don’t turn people’s front gardens into public toilets

16. MUSIC AT THE CARNIVAL  The Caribbean people are naturally musical. It was the Trinidadians who invented the steel band, one f the most extraordinary musical inventions ever made.

17. MUSIC AT THE CARNIVAL  The rhythmical beating of drums goes way back to their ancestors in Africa. But in the Caribbean steel drums can also accompany calypsos, a form of Caribbean folk song which was first sung in Trinidad. Calypsos have a strong, simple rhythm. The words are sometimes written down, but the best calypsos are invented by the singer as he goes along, and they are usually about exciting events, unpopular politicians, or love stories.

18. CARIBBEAN ENGLISH  Many Caribbean immigrants speak very special English. Here is an example of Caribbean English, from a poem by John Agard.  John Agard is a famous Caribbean writer who now lives in London and does his best to promote a better understanding of Caribbean culture.

19. Listen, Mr Oxford don!  Me not no Oxford don Me a simple immigrant Me a simple immigrant From Clapham Common From Clapham Common I didn’t graduate I didn’t graduate I immigrate. I immigrate.  But listen Mr Oxford don I’m a man on de run I’m a man on de run And a man on de run And a man on de run Is a dangerous one. Is a dangerous one.

20. Listen, Mr Oxford don!  I ent have no gun I ent have no knife I ent have no knife But mugging de Queen’s English But mugging de Queen’s English is the story of my life. is the story of my life.  I don’t need no axe To split up yu syntax To split up yu syntax I don’t need no hammer I don’t need no hammer To mash up yu grammer. To mash up yu grammer.