Saturday, February 25, 2012

¡Qué maravilla es la época de Carnaval!

You may have heard about, or even been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. You may not be aware, however, that Spanish-speaking countries have similar celebrations known as Carnaval.  Just like Mardi Gras, Carnaval owes part of its roots to a Catholic tradition. Historically, devout Catholics would fast for the forty days leading up to Easter in spiritual recognition of the sacrifice made by their savior, Jesus.

Christ Carrying the Cross by the Spanish artist, El Greco
 (currently located at The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

This fast is known as Lent and begins every year on a day known as Ash Wednesday. Many modern day Christians observe lent by giving up a particular excess or indulgence such as smoking, drinking, eating meat, consuming sugar, etc. The day before Ash Wednesday is known as Fat Tuesday. Fat Tuesday is important because this is the day before fasting begins and is therefore observed as a "last chance" to indulge before Lent. Mardi Gras and Carnaval celebrations generally begin roughly a week prior to Ash Wednesday, culminating in a huge Fat Tuesday celebration.


photo by pkingDesign via flickr

While the most famous Carnaval celebration is, without a doubt, the celebration held in São Paulo, Brazil, (where Portuguese is the official language), other cities host well-known celebrations in the Spanish Speaking world. They include cities such as Cádiz (Spain), Tenerife (Canary Islands), Ponce (Puerto Rico), and Barranquilla (Colombia). The Carnaval of Baranquilla, Colombia perhaps outshines them all, as it has been proclaimed a World Heritage Event by UNESCO.

If you have time, watch this Spanish television special about the 2011 Carnaval in Baranquilla. (Don't worry if you don't understand the narrator, the visuals are enough!) Judging by the music, dance, costumes, etc., do you think carnaval might have other influences besides Western Catholicism? What might they be?

 If you can't acesss Youtube, watch it here.