Carême

In Martinique, we use the word "carême" (Lent in English) for two things : 

1. Lent is the dry season in the Caribbean. Generally, this season is from December to May. It is characterized by temperatures around 30°C (85°F) but also by very little rain.
2. Lent is the period of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. It lasts 40 days. It symbolizes two major biblical events, namely the 40-day fast of Moses on Mount Sinai before receiving the tablets of law and the 40 days of temptation of Christ in the wilderness by the devil. It begins in Martinique on the Thursday after Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Monday. 
   
   During this period, Catholics pray, go without eating meat (mainly in Martinique on Friday), and refrain from having parties. Side parties, festivals, and other activities were so at a time (the 20th century) that they were simply non-existent or very discreet. 
   
   So it was a period chosen by the leaders of the party venues (clubs, nightclubs, banquet halls, etc.) to perform the work and restructuring. Today, there are parties without equal to the number of outside parties during Lent.