Pierrot Grenade

Before the Pierrot Grenade, there was the Pierrot, a princely figure whose story is essential to understanding his more modern counterpart. The Pierrot was not just a striking masquerader but also a formidable fighter, dressed in a satin gown that fell to his knees. The hem of the gown and his shoes were adorned with bells, so each stately step was accompanied by a melodious jingling. His costume featured a heart-shaped breast piece, typically red or green, bordered with swansdown and embellished with sequins, spangles, and tiny mirrors. The Pierrot also wore a loose velvet beret, cleverly concealing an iron pot on his head for protection against the brutal blows of his adversary’s steel or lead-lined fighting whip.

During Carnival, the Pierrot would roam the city streets, entertaining the crowds with his presence. However, a dramatic shift would occur if he encountered another Pierrot. Each Pierrot claimed lordship over a territory consisting of several streets and fiercely guarded it from intruders. When two Pierrots met, they would engage in boastful exchanges of victories and counter-speeches. Inevitably, these confrontations often led to unsatisfactory replies and escalated into physical fights. The months of painstaking work put into creating their elaborate costumes were often reduced to shreds in a matter of moments. The fighting between these masqueraders became so frequent and intense that in 1896, a law was passed requiring a special license from the police to play this type of mas.

The Pierrot Grenade is undoubtedly the supreme jester of Trinidad Carnival, a satirical twist on the well-dressed traditional Pierrot, a character introduced by migrant workers from Grenada, from whom he also gets his name. Unlike his finely attired counterpart, the Pierrot Grenade was clad in rags and odd scraps, such as small cigarette boxes and bits of tin. Instead of the bells that adorned the traditional Pierrot’s costume, he used small sardines and milk tins filled with pebbles to create a rattling sound with each movement. Rather than wielding a deadly or extravagant whip, he carried a simple one about five feet long, cut from a light vine or taken from a nearby tree branch.

The Pierrot Grenade portrayed himself as a learned scholar, famous for his unique spelling expertise. His spelling would lead to witty, improvised dialogues, often challenging another Pierrot with the boastful question, “Do you wish to do battle with me?” He took great pride in showcasing his wide-ranging knowledge, spelling even the longest words in his own inimitable style. This spelling wasn’t just a straightforward exercise but a lengthy, graphic, and dramatic storytelling performance, where the keywords aligned with the syllables of the word being spelt, regardless of their actual meaning. The Pierrot Grenade’s combination of humour, intellect, and creativity made him a standout figure in the carnival tradition.