Bibliography
- Berry , James . 1991 . When I dance , San Diego : Harcourt Brace Jovanovich . This book of poetry includes works that conjure up the feeling of dancing and singing in the Caribbean style and texture. If the poems are read aloud, the dialect will add to the effect
- Bilby , K. M. 1985 . “ The Caribbean as a musical region. ” . In Caribbean Contours , Edited by: Mintz , S. W. and Price , S. Baltimore : Johns Hopkins Press. The article explains how the music of the carnivals has become the folk music of the region as European and African instruments and rhythms were combined by native musicians who gave their own interpretation of traditional tunes and dances .
- Cohen , H. and Coffin , T. P. , eds. 1987 . The folklore of American holidays , Detroit : Gale Research . This book could be used to compare Caribbean festivals with the better known Mardi Gras in the United States. The story, beginning on page 81, about boys in the 1890s preparing for a Mardi Gras parade provides a wonderful description of the excitement engendered by this celebration
- Crahan , M. W. and Knight , F. W. , eds. 1979 . Africa and the Caribbean: The legacies of a link , Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press . A good resource book for information about the African influence in Caribbean celebrations. The origin of Jonkonnu from the story of the historical John Conny provides a wonderful description of developing celebrity
- Gaer , J. 1953 . Holidays around the world , Boston : Little, Brown . See “Holidays Are History” starting on page 9 for an explanation of why we look at celebrations as a window into a culture
- Myers , R. J. 1072 . Celebrations: The complete book of American holidays , Garden City, N.Y. : Doubleday . Enjoy the descriptions of the beginning of Carnival from ancient Rome to the burning of an effigy of winter whose burlesque figure personifies the festive season
- Nunley , J. W. and Bettleheim , J. 1988 . Caribbean festival arts: Each and every bit of difference , Seattle : University of Washington Press . This beautifully illustrated study provides detail on the differences in the celebrations among the various nations of the region. It is a rich source for pictures of different types of masks. The final chapter written by Rex Nettleford explains the importance of Carnival and of masking to cultural development
- Tudor , T. 1977 . A time to keep: The Tasha Tudor book of holidays , Chicago : Rand McNally . This delightful picture book for younger children tells the importance of holidays in the life of one person
- Van Straiten , A. 1986 . The book of holidays around the world , New York : Dutton . See the descriptions of Shrove Tuesday and Carnival listed for February 25 and RaRa for April 9