GOODBYE SUMMER! WELCOME WINTER!
GOODBYE SUMMER! WELCOME WINTER!
By: Oluwatosin Olaniyi
Less than 50 years ago, The Notting Hill Carnival was launched. The organisers would never have thought that it would become as widely-known as it is today.
The Notting Hill Carnival takes place in West London towards the end of August every year and indigenes as well as visitors from near, far and wide, go through a great struggle to get to the venue as both automobile and human traffic cannot be avoided.
It is said that this carnival bids farewell to the summer and welcome to the winter. In other words, cold, rains and drops of snow are expected as soon as the carnival has taken place.
The Notting Hill Carnival is celebrated for two days; the first day majorly for children and the second day for adults. This year, the carnival took place on Sunday, 25th and Monday, 26th of August respectively.
The Carnival has been celebrated every bank holiday (a break given to all those who work at the banks in London) since 1966. Ever since, it has become one of the greatest sources of tourist revenue in London as people will stop at nothing to be a part of the carnival.
Most of the time, trains are fully boarded leaving some passengers hanging on various parts of the train just to be at the carnival. Seats are never enough and passengers don’t mind standing, squatting or being squeezed like fish fillets to get to their destination. Automobiles are not advisable to be boarded as the route to the venue of the carnival could be very confusing by road; this is the reason the trains are always jam-packed on the day of the event either going to or returning from the area it took place.
In addition, during the carnival, representatives from various countries dress in fanciful attires, usually in shiny material with all sorts of designs. Some of them are dressed in butterfly-shaped clothes, some in snail-shell designs and many more. Music that originated from these various countries is played from a loudspeaker for all to hear while the participants dressed in these clothes dance vigorously to the beat of the music. Some of them are conveyed in a vehicle for all to see while others walk and dance in a bid to make their way round the nook and crannies of the streets that they must reach before the end of the day.
The watching crowd follow the processions till some are exhausted and decide to head home while many will continue the journey to the last destination. The clothes of these participants, the music, the dance and many more make The Notting hill Carnival a very colourful and interesting event.
Because of the myriad of people that attend the event, the organisers make sure that law and order is enforced as patrols of policemen are seen at strategic positions to maintain peace and order.
Every year, more than a million people are expected to attend the carnival. Food items, drinks, clothes, shoes and all sorts of souvenirs are sold as you get closer to the main venue of the event. A lot of people let their houses out as guest houses, their gardens as picnic centres and some even go to the extent of renting their toilets all in a bid to make something out of the “tourism rain.”
Talking to one of such men, he stressed, “Toilet! One pound! One pound! One pound!” while on his door, a board clearly reads, “One pound per person” He beamed with smiles as lots of people trooped in to use the convenience and his pocket bulged.
In the coming year, The Notting hill Carnival should be taking place somewhat around the 20th and 27th of August, 2015. So, if you are interested in having this wholesome and worthwhile experience, you had better booked a ticket early!
By: Oluwatosin Olaniyi
Less than 50 years ago, The Notting Hill Carnival was launched. The organisers would never have thought that it would become as widely-known as it is today.
The Notting Hill Carnival takes place in West London towards the end of August every year and indigenes as well as visitors from near, far and wide, go through a great struggle to get to the venue as both automobile and human traffic cannot be avoided.
It is said that this carnival bids farewell to the summer and welcome to the winter. In other words, cold, rains and drops of snow are expected as soon as the carnival has taken place.
The Notting Hill Carnival is celebrated for two days; the first day majorly for children and the second day for adults. This year, the carnival took place on Sunday, 25th and Monday, 26th of August respectively.
The Carnival has been celebrated every bank holiday (a break given to all those who work at the banks in London) since 1966. Ever since, it has become one of the greatest sources of tourist revenue in London as people will stop at nothing to be a part of the carnival.
Most of the time, trains are fully boarded leaving some passengers hanging on various parts of the train just to be at the carnival. Seats are never enough and passengers don’t mind standing, squatting or being squeezed like fish fillets to get to their destination. Automobiles are not advisable to be boarded as the route to the venue of the carnival could be very confusing by road; this is the reason the trains are always jam-packed on the day of the event either going to or returning from the area it took place.
In addition, during the carnival, representatives from various countries dress in fanciful attires, usually in shiny material with all sorts of designs. Some of them are dressed in butterfly-shaped clothes, some in snail-shell designs and many more. Music that originated from these various countries is played from a loudspeaker for all to hear while the participants dressed in these clothes dance vigorously to the beat of the music. Some of them are conveyed in a vehicle for all to see while others walk and dance in a bid to make their way round the nook and crannies of the streets that they must reach before the end of the day.
The watching crowd follow the processions till some are exhausted and decide to head home while many will continue the journey to the last destination. The clothes of these participants, the music, the dance and many more make The Notting hill Carnival a very colourful and interesting event.
Because of the myriad of people that attend the event, the organisers make sure that law and order is enforced as patrols of policemen are seen at strategic positions to maintain peace and order.
Every year, more than a million people are expected to attend the carnival. Food items, drinks, clothes, shoes and all sorts of souvenirs are sold as you get closer to the main venue of the event. A lot of people let their houses out as guest houses, their gardens as picnic centres and some even go to the extent of renting their toilets all in a bid to make something out of the “tourism rain.”
Talking to one of such men, he stressed, “Toilet! One pound! One pound! One pound!” while on his door, a board clearly reads, “One pound per person” He beamed with smiles as lots of people trooped in to use the convenience and his pocket bulged.
In the coming year, The Notting hill Carnival should be taking place somewhat around the 20th and 27th of August, 2015. So, if you are interested in having this wholesome and worthwhile experience, you had better booked a ticket early!
Comments
Post a Comment