A lot of people may not be aware that St Kitts has a rich history, in that it used to be one of the richest islands in the West Indies due to the sugar plantations and was very much considered to be the gateway to the Caribbean.
There is no doubt this has shaped much of the history both on St Kitts and within the Caribbean, but it has also had a huge influence on the culture here.
The island has a rich tradition of carnivals, especially at Christmas, and especially for the art of masquerade, as those taking part in the Carnival sometimes wear tall peacock feathers headdresses and masks, and their entire costume is decorated with ribbons, bangles and mirrors.
The dances tend to be a combination of European and African styles, and one of the dances has been identified as having its roots in 17th-century France. The island is also famous for the Moko-Jumbies, who dance on 6 to 8 foot stilts for the length of the parade route.
There are lots of different theories surrounding both the costumes and the dance, as some believe that Moko is the name of the African God of vengeance while others think it is a corruption of the name of a very tall palm tree called the macaw, as their headdresses resemble the macaw plant when in full bloom.
Somewhat surprisingly St Kitts is also famous for its clowns who have been part of their Christmas celebrations for hundreds of years. If you can, it's well worth visiting the island at Christmas time to see this famous and colourful carnival.
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