Thousands of revelers have taken to the streets in St Johns to participate in this year’s J’ouvert, a traditional festival that marks the beginning of Carnival.

From children as little as 5 years old to the more mature folks, many were seen in the streets as early as 4 a.m

Traditionally, J’Ouvert revelers cover their bodies in colored paints, mud, or pitch oil and dress up as blue or red devils to dance through the streets.

But in these modern times, the attire, mainly among the young ladies, is skimpy, with some wearing almost nothing.

This is a celebration of the ancestors who have gone before them and an expression of liberation from the past’s constraints. Hundreds of foreigners are on the island and several

Other neighboring islands and areas where Caribbean people have immigrated also celebrate J’ouvert before the official start of Carnival Mas, where more elaborate costumes are on display and danced through the city streets.