The Afterword is back! Time for a party!

At this moment, on the other side of the Atlantic, some of the best parties on the planet are happening.

Yesterday, it being Pancake Day, Mardi Gras and Carnival, we had a thread on the music from those amazing celebrations over on The Lifeboat. I was particularly chuffed at finding this wonderful clip of soca star Super Blue performing in front of an ecstatic Caribbean crowd. It captures the atmosphere perfectly. I love the strongmen in their swimming trunks and the guy on stilts.

But can you imagine a crowd of 10,000 Afterworders all jumping up and down waving their hankies like madmen? Or can you imagine yourself wearing a bejewelled thong, pasties and a large feather head dress?

Some things just don’t travel very well however hard you try. There is a samba troupe here in Stockholm. The girls are gorgeous, they have beautiful outfits and the music is great. But somehow, when you are freezing and covered in goosebumps, it’s a little difficult to let Bacchanalian abandon take over.

Any other examples of cultural events which do not travel well?

Anybody here been to Mardi Gras or Carnival?