Mas Fever Explained

by Shakellia Augustine

Many of us have had that undeniable urge to go to a Caribbean Carnival. For me, the urge is strongest if I am unable to attend Trinidad’s Carnival a.k.a. “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Right around Carnival time, I get very anxious and start thinking of ways that I can scrape together the airfare at the last minute. And as all the parties are going on, all the competitions, leading up to Carnival Tuesday, I actually feel sick if I am not there. This is a classic case of Mas Fever. One cure is to go to Carnival. People tell lies, risk losing their jobs, go into debt, etc., just to experience Carnival.

After attending Trinidad’s Carnival for the first time several years ago, I got hooked. I became a soca junkie and a Carnival addict. I began attending many other Carnivals in various cities to get my fix. So I pondered the situation and developed a hypothesis of why people develop this phenomenon we call Mas Fever. Carnival has a spiritual side. On Carnival Day you release your inhibitions. You feel free to dance and “get on bad” no matter what your age, size, or background is. You’re living in the present moment, soaking up all the sights, sounds, and feelings of the day. Everyone feels joyful and united.

The secret is that you can get that feeling by simply living in the present moment. This is what we crave as human beings. As on Carnival Day, practice to not worry about yesterday or tomorrow. Be grateful for the simple things in life, like breathing, health, and strength. Notice the quiet beauty in everything. Listen to your favorite music, and remember to dance whenever possible. Your spirits will be lifted, you’ll feel a deep sense of joy, and a sense of connectedness to the world. So when you can’t go to Carnival, celebrating life by living in the here and now is another cure for Mas Fever.