A brief history of carnival
Notting Hill? Yes! This is the London block where Julia Roberts and hugh grant staged a romantic scene. This late summer is boiling for carnival!
Notting Hill Carnival is the largest carnival in Europe and the second largest street celebration in the world after Rio de Janeiro Carnival in Brazil. Carnival was held in 1964 for the first time, and the response was very good. Since then, it has been held in Notting Hill block in the northwest corner of London every year, and it has been the 42nd session.
The custom of carnival originated from Caribbean culture. /kloc-in the 1960 s, the British held Notting Hill Carnival to reconcile the racial pressure faced by blacks and promote exchanges between blacks and whites. This tradition has become an international gathering for people from all over the world to communicate and vent with each other through music and dance. The theme of this year's carnival is "Unity and Diversity". Britain, which is in the "post-bombing period", is eager to tell the world that British citizens are United and full of enthusiasm and tolerance for various cultures. In order to ensure that "everyone has a share in the carnival", the organizer specially arranged a "Caribbean customs exhibition" in Hyde Park not far from Notting Hill block for elegant people who can't stand the crazy atmosphere to visit. People who feel suffocated in the carnival can have a rest in the sunshine and lawn of Hyde Park and immerse themselves in the fragrance of the Caribbean.
This year's Notting Hill Carnival was lucky to meet the rare continuous fine weather in foggy city. From August 28th to 29th, the celebration lasted for two days and two nights. The dancers reluctantly left Notting Hill and were not exhausted until 3am on the 30th. According to the BBC, a total of 750,000 people attended the event.
Say no to terror.
This carnival is the first large-scale public event after the terrorist bombings in London in July, and the safety issue naturally occupies the first place. The London police mobilized a total of 5,000 police officers to ensure the safety and smooth progress of the event! Almost everywhere you can hear carnival music, you can see groups of policemen patrolling around with serious faces. Their work has also achieved good results! London police said on BBC radio: "It is very encouraging to see so many people taking to the streets to celebrate freely. This proves that Londoners are not intimidated by terrorist attacks, the colorful life of Londoners continues, and our enthusiasm is increasing. "
Find someone at the carnival
Black people-the protagonist of carnival
Black people are the protagonists of the carnival. They play every role in the carnival: black policemen, black volunteers, black dancers, black tourists and black vendors. Because carnival is a black festival! In the carnival, you won't see a shy black man, and you won't see a black man standing there in a daze (except the black policeman). Every black man is dancing, laughing and shouting. Black people dominate the process of dressing up, and all the DJs are black, which gives the carnival vitality and passion!
Serious citizen
On the day of carnival, if you don't know the exact address of the event, then take a closer look at the place where there are an amazing number of police. It must be the carnival area. According to the BBC, London dispatched 5000 policemen for this activity! Looking around, more than one policeman glanced at the crowd with a serious expression in every corner. They are the only people in the whole carnival who can't laugh and dance. But if you ask them or ask them for help, they will answer you with a big smile, and if you take pictures of them, they will also cooperate with each other to show their mighty appearance. At several intersections outside the carnival block, patrol officers were also placed to protect horses. They stopped at the intersection like statues, smiling at every child who came to touch the horse, and cooperated with the flash of tourists.
Foreigners-the New Army of Carnival
For tourists from all over the world, London is often the first stop to visit Britain. Besides, Notting Hill Carnival is the second largest carnival in the world, and no one will miss it. DJ scolded ... I saw white people, black people, yellow people and red people ... Oh, yes, let's dance together! Don't worry, don't be nervous, let's all dance! "Walking in the crowd, my ears are full of various languages. Foreign tourists often take pictures with various brands of cameras first, and then dance with them. There are some yellow people among them, but the number is small. They belong to a relatively quiet group. Perhaps it is because of different cultures that it is difficult to blend into the carnival atmosphere. I remember listening to a friend describe the annual Fireworks Festival in Tokyo, Japan: people entered the stadium in an orderly manner, and beautiful fireworks soared, only to hear faint praise, but not high applause. After the activity, everyone left silently, without crowding, shoving or leaving any rubbish on the ground! This oriental culture is really different from the culture of dancing around with chocolate sauce.
Carnival treasure hunt
Whistle-a tool for answering all calls
On carnival day, if you catch a whistle for a few cents in the domestic wholesale market and sell it, you will definitely make a lot of money. Whistling is the best way to echo loud music. Almost everyone has a whistle around their neck. The peddler kept peddling among the crowd. Except for a few blocks where whistles are sent to tourists free of charge, the whistles of vendors are mostly 1 pound, which is equivalent to 14 yuan RMB! Like treasure hunting, children are looking for whistles that people have dropped on the ground. As soon as they see them, they will rush to pick them up and take them for themselves.
Roasted Chicken Leg —— "Must Eat" in Festivals
Roasted chicken legs are the most popular food at carnival. Within the scope of the carnival, there are many stalls roasting chicken legs on every street, and almost every tourist will not miss this delicious food. Although it is no different from the roast chicken leg in China, it has become a "must-eat" in festivals, because it symbolizes the iconic food of carnival Caribbean culture! The "carnival notice" on the official website specifically pointed out: "Please remember to bring paper towels so that you can wipe them after eating roast chicken legs." The roast chicken leg costs about 3 pounds, equivalent to RMB 43 yuan, which is a Caribbean-style food.
Beer-the Important Role of Carnival
British bar culture is world-famous. Football hooligans are also famous for going crazy after drinking. Beer also plays an important role in carnival activities! The bar moved the mountains of beer outside the store, making it easier for tourists to buy it. The supermarket not far from the carnival block puts beer in the most conspicuous place and sends employees to hold small signs in the street to attract tourists' attention. For example, the small sign reads: "Tesco is open and there are many discount beers!" " Wait for the slogan. The price of Carnival beer is around 2 pounds, equivalent to RMB 30 yuan. Residents nearby are not to be outdone. They brought several cases of cold beer from home and sold them on the roadside. Because it is cheap and convenient, the sales volume is also very good.