Braving the stormy seas Miss St. Brelade, Hannah Daghorn, and her friend Sasha Bates, travelled with the Connétable, Mike Jackson, and Association President Julian Bernstein to take part in the annual Mardi Gras celebration. The young ladies took part in the Children’s Parade on the Saturday afternoon sitting on the float with Les Demoiselles de Granville and the official Standard Bearer. The Association has had made beautiful Blue Velvet capes with the emblem of St. Brelade embroidered on the back which the girls wore to keep them warm.
Everyone was regally entertained by the Carnivale team in Granville and on Sunday the girls were once again on the Official Galleon Float and travelled through the town in front of 100,000 people who throng to Granville for this celebration. This display is very different from the Battle of Flowers as the 35 floats are made out of papier-maché and are full of political satire and jokes. The crowd threw tons of confetti which gets into all the clothes and hair! Unlike the Battle of Flowers the floats move through the centre of the town with no cordon between them and the public. There were also many massed bands and a real carnival atmosphere fills the air. It is interesting to note that during the weekend only 2 or 3 Police officers were present.
The Carnivale is in its 134th year, and this year Rodney and Denise Waller attended the opening ceremony on behalf of the Association. The celebrations last 5 full days and finish on Mardi Gras with the burning of the floats!
