The Caribbean is a region known not only for its sun, sand and sea, but also for its festivals. Also known as the “Carnival of the Caribbean,” these festivals have spread throughout the diaspora. Oxford Dictionaries define Carnival as "a period of public revelry at a regular time each year, usually during the week before Lent in Roman Catholic countries, involving processions, music, dancing and the use of the masquerade.” The term and concept of "carnival" originated in Italy, but with the influence of African culture, Caribbean carnivals took on their own form. We can understand that modern carnival was born from colonialism and ultimately freedom. According to Julia Hewitt: “In the Caribbean, carnival, as a mode of resistance, carries the memory of repression and sacrifice, but also hope, in the sense of becoming other.” The first Caribbean festival is believed to have begun on the island of Trinidad and Tobago in the 18th century. From Trinidad and Tobago, the festival has spread to other islands. Then infused with the local cultures of that country to form its own unique “carnival”. In this essay, the evolution of three festivals in the Caribbean and its diaspora will be examined. These three festivals are the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, the New York Labor Day Carnival and the Notting Hill Carnival in London. Thus showing the growth and visibility of not only “carnival” but also Caribbean culture. Many festivals in the Caribbean reflect the region's strong history. As such, it has connections to plantation life or religious beliefs. It started as a way to celebrate and enjoy life; preserve cultural traditions and reflect on cultural diversity. In the diaspora, it is a way of maintaining the link between the Caribbean and the people safe...... middle of paper ... detrimental to their interests and which has encouraged young black people to throw stones, cans and demonstrators on the demonstrators. bottles. Such disruptions contributed to the cancellation of the Harlem festival. This shows that even abroad, Carnival was not without political adversaries. In the 1960s, Carlos Lezema, who headed the association, obtained permission to hold the festival on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. His daughter, Yolanda Lezama-Clark, now oversees the festival as president. Works Cited “carnival: Oxford Dictionary definition of carnival…” Insert site name in italics. Np, and Web. April 7, 2014.Richard ScehnerTrinidad Carnival: the cultural politics of a transnational festivalhttp://www.nalis.gov.tt/Research/SubjectGuide/Carnival/tabid/105/Default.aspx?PageContentMode=1#80Julia Hewitt