According to popular belief, J'ouvert is a phrase for a festival celebrated annually in Trinidad and Tobago to honor Caribbean culture and the end of slavery in the region. J'ouvert, sometimes spelled jouvay, is a Trinidadian celebration that dates back to the Canboulay festival when sugarcane fields caught fire and slaves were compelled to pick the last of the crop before it was completely destroyed. Male slaves were made to act out the scene as their owners laughed at them in mockery. However, once freed, the slaves laughed at their former owners' jokes about them. What Exactly Goes On At A J'ouvert Party In Trinidad? Throughout the Caribbean, people of many different cultures celebrate J'ouvert. So J’ouvert is not just a Caribbean holiday; it is widely celebrated all over the world. As part of the festivities, calypso and soca musicians will take to the streets to perform for their fans, who will then join them in dancing. The celebration begins before sunrise and reaches its height in the early morning. Participants in the "Jab Jabs" event are traditionally splashed with paint, dirt, and oil. How To Dress For J’ouvert? Visitors often compare it to Halloween, but with a more mature vibe. Large groups of people get up before dawn, slather on mud, and march out onto the streets. The most common material to spread all over one's body is mud, but additional options include motor oil, axle grease, grease paint, actual paint, and a whole lot more. At this insane celebration, guests will also pelt each other with powder, mud, and water. There is no requirement for particular dress during J'Ouvert, unlike at the carnival. Wear anything you do not mind getting a little soiled. This is significant since, after the J'ouvert Trinidad party, you will likely dispose of these garments. How To Differentiate Between Fake And Real J'ouvert? Many people in Trinidad distinguish between the "genuine" J'Ouvert and the "fake" J'Ouvert. Fewer people, more security, and cooler beverages are just a few of the many characteristics of the false version. Believers in the spiritual rejuvenating power of J'Ouvert insist that you must be a part of the wild and chaotic people that gather at Independence Square.