One of the highlights of playing Sailor Mas from 1946 to mid 1980 s was the mock warfare that the rival bands engaged in when they met each other. Warfare consisted of using rice, powder, perfume, streamers and confetti to shower each other as they passed, whilst their steelband would perform their Special musical arrangement, part of the competitive feature of that era. Now you know why Doh Play Sailor and Fraid Powder. It s easy to understand how many Trini s can party for two days and nights at Carnival time when you realize that they have been playing mas from the time they were little tykes. There are bands geared to hundreds of children of all ages, and some small bands that only take about thirty children.
Every age group is represented from babes in arms to young teenagers.
The costuming is often more elaborate and imaginative than many adult s bathing suit mas . You may see a tiny six-month old in his mother s arms dressed as a caterpillar including a tiny antenna hat, or a full carousel with each child dressed as a different animal rotating around a central queen in a full hoop skirt. You can get some friends together, get a maxi and visit several mas camps to see each bandleader s designs for the season. In the weeks closer to Carnival they will only be open for collecting and paying for costumes, so go early in the season. They are open usually from 5 O clock in the evening and on weekends.