Next Carnival: February 2012

The Martinique carnival celebration actually begins many weeks prior with Carnival parties taking place across the island each weekend in January. On Dimanche Gras or 'Fat Sunday', the island will be awhirl with daytime parades, marchers parade around with spectacularly dressed puppets called Bwa Bwa. 'Mardi Gras Monday' in Martinique brings 'Mock Weddings', and elaborate masquerade balls. Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, is Red Devils Day highlighted by glorious parades with masses of vibrant red-devil costumes.

The arrival of Ash Wednesday, is the bonus 'Day of the She-Devils' (La Fête des Diablesses) marks the climax of the celebration with up to 30,000 'mourners' gathering to mark the end of Carnival and the symbolic death of King Carnival, known as Vaval.Only two colors are worn -- black and white.

Officially, Martinique's Carnival ends at the close of Ash Wednesday, however, Carnival spirit is reignited three weeks later with a second bonus day of revelry known as Mi-Carême, or mid-Lent.