Fancy Sailors

"You can’t play mas and ’fraid powder," is a popular Trinidadian expression, capturing the essence of Carnival: to fully experience it, you must embrace its wild spirit. This saying traces back to the traditions of Sailor Mas, one of the most enduring forms of traditional mas, which remains vital in contemporary Carnival.

Sailor Mas originated in the 1880s and 90s when British, American, and French warships frequently docked in Port of Spain. The visiting sailors, often seen around the city, inspired locals to create a playful, mocking imitation. Masqueraders donned starched white uniforms, gloves, and caps, mimicking the drunken gait of inebriated crewmen. Essential props included a walking stick, a pipe, and a tin of talcum powder for tossing onto unsuspecting passers-by—hence the expression, "You can’t play mas."

The American naval presence in Trinidad during World War II further popularised Sailor Mas, leading to a wider variety of sailor portrayals, from low-ranking crewmen to high-ranking officers. Some costumes, like the “fireman,” featured blue or black melton uniforms, goggles, large leather gloves, and tools representing those who worked in the ship's engine room. The “bad behaviour sailor,” rolling around in the gutter, was based on the rowdy behaviour of sailors on shore leave during the war. Others wore Hawaiian leis or sported a chest full of imitation medals and ribbons, with officers flaunting yards of gold braid.

While traditional Sailor Mas focused on realistic depictions of naval crewmen, Fancy Sailor Mas, which emerged in the 1930s, ventured into the surreal. The initial idea of elongated noses quickly evolved into elaborate headpieces crafted from merino cloth stretched over wireframes. These headpieces became increasingly elaborate, featuring boats, aeroplanes, swans, and elephants, all adorned with swansdown, sequins, tinsel, and mirrors. These Fancy Sailors became voyagers of the imagination, with costumes later described by designer Peter Minshall as "surreal indigenous expressions."

By the 1950s, Fancy Sailor Mas had undergone further transformation. Long noses were replaced by intricate headpieces crafted from bent wireframes, with themes that changed annually—ranging from fruits and flowers to zodiac signs, and even Walt Disney characters—each designed with meticulous attention to colour and detail. These headpieces were often made from papier-mâché, intricately decorated and painted to resemble birds, animals, or plants. The sailor outfits themselves were adorned with ribbons, medals, braiding, swansdown, and other embellishments that complemented the headpiece. 

The distinctive dance of the sailors has always been a key element of the masquerade. What began as a parody of drunk stumbling evolved into various styles, such as the “bote,” a sideways movement on one leg, twisting heel and toe, and then repeating with both feet. Other steps, like the “crab,” “rock de boat,” “skip jack,” and “camel walk,” became essential skills for prospective sailors, passed down from older to younger masqueraders. Traditionally, sailor bands had no musical accompaniment other than their singing as they marched in ranks down the street.

Even in today's “bikini and beads” era of Carnival, Sailor Mas remains popular with both participants and audiences. Belmont continues to be the headquarters for most major sailor bands. From its origins as a parody of military power, Sailor Mas has, over its 120-year history, evolved into an exuberant celebration of the imaginative spirit at the heart of Carnival.