The Notting Hill Carnival 2012 took place in London over the bank holiday weekend. It was fun seeing and filming those glittery outfits that most of us would associate with the Brazilian carnival. This was, of course, another good excuse for a good party at all the pubs around this area. Take a look at the video below!

For those who have not heard of this event, it is a street festival where the West Indies communities in London celebrate their culture. Particularly, Trinidad and Tobago. It has been happening on the August bank holiday weekend since 1966. Recently, it has grown to include some other communities in the parade, such as the Brazilian one.

It includes a huge parade, sound systems and loads of food stalls. It also includes massive crowds, an impressive number of very friendly police officers (no sarcasm here) and very loud, happy music coming from the various groups circulating in the parade since 9am on both days. The starting time is astonishing, as they do not stop until quite a few hours later.

They pride themselves in organising the biggest street party of this kind in Europe. Whether this is true or not, the happiness in the atmosphere and the rythm is certainly contagious.

Enjoy the short video below, which I recorded from the so-called ‘Trini Hill’, in an area where many Trinidadians have traditionally lived in London. Some of them were telling people around the meaning of the many items on display, like the ibis, which is Trinidad and Tobago national bird. You can hear that in the background.

This has been posted from my YouTube account