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Colourful, rhythmic, and extremely vigorous, Fats Tuesday, Mardi Gras, or carnival celebrations share a lot in widespread world wide, although every nation places its personal spin on the festivities. As a fusion of Catholic and Pagan traditions, these pre-Lenten festivities are all about dwelling it up earlier than the customary 40 days of reflection, fasting, and basic solemnity. 

With historic origins in historic Greek tradition, carnival has been practiced in its current type going again so far as the Center Ages. Many carnival traditions have been dropped at the Americas by Europeans and morphed over time, merging with indigenous and modern tradition and creating celebrations distinctive to the place the place they happen. That is the case with Colombia, which has a number of the world’s greatest acknowledged carnival traditions, or, as we are saying in Spanish, carnaval.

Of all of Colombia’s carnivals—it has no less than 5 well-known ones—the Carnaval de Barranquilla (Barranquilla Carnival) is the largest and probably the most well-known. With really sensational costumes, dance, and music, it’s an unforgettable expertise. Carnaval isn’t only a day, both. It’s a complete season, lasting a couple of month. Beneath, we’ll provide you with all the information you could determine the way you wish to take part! 

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What’s Carnaval?

Carnaval is a gigantic celebration of music, dance and visuals that largely takes place outdoor. Carnaval is current in lots of Spanish-speaking nations with Catholic affect. In Colombia, you’ll discover the largest celebrations within the metropolis of Barranquilla. 

An explosion of folklore tinged with fashionable features, you’ll hear cumbia and drums, see dances with roots within the Congo and Spain, and watch parades that includes handmade supplies like costumes, floats, masks and headpieces. You’ll hear songs and watch theatrical performances that typically mock essential public figures. However don’t fear: it’s all executed within the spirit of fine enjoyable to remind us to not take life too severely.

Why does Colombia rejoice Carnaval?

Colombia was underneath Spanish rule for roughly 300 years, and Catholicism took root throughout that point. The Catholic custom of Lent was superimposed on indigenous spiritual practices, nevertheless it doesn’t imply they disappeared totally. Spanish colonizers, particularly the Catholic clergy, launched the custom of carnival as a means of having fun with the ultimate pleasures, like meat or alcohol, that Catholics usually traditionally restricted or gave up for a interval of 40 days.

The carnival custom in Colombia syncretized three cultures: the indigenous traditions such because the Chibcha peoples, Africans customs because of the slaves who have been imported by the Spanish, and Spanish tradition. In main cities like Bogota, Cartagena or Popayán the place essential governmental and commerce exercise occurred, Spaniards weren’t proud of the way in which carnaval had developed in Colombia. Due to this fact, carnaval flourished in smaller Colombian cities at the moment like Barranquilla and Pasto.

With time, every of the carnival traditions developed into what they’re in the present day and a few new ones, just like the literature carnival, arose. The Carnaval de Barranquilla is the second largest carnival on the planet, with Rio de Janeiro being the primary. It’s additionally thought-about to be a part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

When is Carnaval? 

Carnaval de Barranquilla happens the 4 days earlier than Ash Wednesday. For 2024, that is Saturday, February 10 to Tuesday, February 13.

Simply keep in mind that Ash Wednesday happens 7 weeks earlier than Easter, which is a vacation with no set date, so dates will range from 12 months to 12 months. That mentioned, pre-Carnaval occasions start as early as mid-January, so for those who’re planning a visit, you may wish to embrace a few of these actions, which we’ll point out beneath.

Dates for carnivals held in cities outdoors of Barranquilla could also be totally different! 

The place does Colombia’s Carnaval de Barranquilla happen?

Carnaval occasions happen at totally different areas throughout the metropolis of Barranquilla, most of that are near the Magdalena River or downtown. Barranquilla is positioned on the northern coast of Colombia, which faces the Caribbean Sea the place the Magdalena River meets the ocean. The river runs alongside almost the entire jap a part of the town. If you end up with out a map through the festivities, the river offers a simple solution to orient your self! 

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Pre-Carnaval festivities 

As we talked about, some pre-Carnaval festivities begin as early as mid-January. Most of those early occasions are a construct as much as the precise Carnaval. Listed below are just a few of the highlights, a few of which proceed by way of the precise 4 days of Carnaval. Try the official website for extra info, however we’d add that these pre-events are all free!

• Exposición Río de Tradiciones: That is an open air exhibit alongside the Magdalena boardwalk that includes a dozen or so big figures based mostly on the Carnaval. This present begins across the center of January and stays open by way of March.
• Fiesta de Comparsas: A number of days after the opening of the Río de Tradiciones, the comparsas occur. A parade of dance, music, and spectacular costumes, the comparsas have two classes: conventional and fantasy. This second class is open to the interpretation of its creators.
• Fiesta de Danzas y Cumbias: The Pageant of Dance and Cumbias takes place on a stage and emphasizes dance and cumbia, a standard tropical music that’s nice to maneuver to. With spectacular costumes and all kinds of traditions from Colombia, Spain, Africa and past, this fiesta goals to please.
• Coronación de la Reina y Rey Momo: Across the finish of the nineteenth century, the character of the Rey Momo appeared. The king and queen are the hosts of the Carnaval, and their coronation means the principle competition is about to start! The celebration occurs the day earlier than the official Carnaval takes place. That is adopted by the Baila la Calle, open air music meant to be danced to.

Occasions and traditions of the Carnaval competition

Annual occasions and areas (in parentheses) are listed beneath. You may anticipate them to occur over the course of the principle Carnaval weekend. Examine the official Barranquilla calendar earlier than you make your plans, as schedules change from 12 months to 12 months. Even final minute modifications are doable!

A few of these areas usually are not simply discovered on the web, so when doubtful, we suggest asking a neighborhood. You’ll notice that a few of these occasions occur greater than as soon as however in numerous areas. For these, we’ve solely included one description.

Scheduled Occasions

• La Batalla de las Flores (Vía 40): One of the essential occasions of Carnaval, the Flower Battle begins late morning and options many orchestras, floats, folkloric teams, and costumes.
• Desfile del Rey Momo (Calle 17): The King Momo Parade presents the king and queen with dancing, costumes and gymnastics.
• Baile la Calle, Noche de Orquestas (Par Vial de la Cra. 50): Extra dancing within the streets–this time with dwell orchestra music! For the file, par vial refers back to the two means avenue a part of the Carrera 50.*
• Encuentro de Comedias (Parque Metropolitano): The Comedy Gathering is a good way to enhance your Spanish as you hearken to dialogs and watch quick theater or dance items. 
• Gran Parada de Tradición (Vía 40): One other one of many main occasions of Carnaval, the Grand Parade of Custom places particular emphasis on conventional dances.
• El Desfile de Joselito (Cra. 50 hasta Barrio Abajo): This symbolic burial of Joselito Carnaval—the Carnaval personified—marks the top of the festivities. With the assistance of some “glad widows,” marimondas (elephant-monkeys) and monocucos (hooded figures), Joselito has his mock funeral full with a number of “mourners” who lament his passing. He’ll, after all, be again once more subsequent 12 months. 

*Notice that within the official schedule “cra.” stands for carrera, which suggests avenue.

Parades

As we talked about earlier, a number of parades referred to as paradas, comparsas or desfiles happen throughout Carnaval and pre-Carnaval. Anticipate cumbia music, energetic dancers, colourful Carnaval outfits (some scantily-clad of us as nicely), and many enjoyable!

Music 

Colombia has a protracted custom of music, and when you’ll largely hear cumbia, salsa, and merengue, there are lots of alternatives to listen to folkloric and indigenous music as nicely. And don’t neglect that there’s an essential African presence in Colombia, although you’ll typically hear a mixture of these influences.

On the third day of Carnaval, the Congo de Oro prize is given in eight totally different classes to the orchestra musicians.

Outfits

The outfits for Carnaval are really spectacular. Although some are conventional—typically cotton and handsewn—others are extra fashionable, product of nylon, plastic attachments, and heaps of sequins and boas. Headdresses, weighing a number of kilos and product of flowers or feathers, crown lots of the costumes.

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Issues to know earlier than you go 

Since dates for the Carnaval range from 12 months to 12 months, verify the dates on Barranquilla’s official website. You’ll want to purchase tickets, ideally nicely prematurely, accessible on that website or by way of tour businesses.

Though the official Carnaval lasts 4 days, we suggest attending no less than a few days earlier than. See our part on Pre-Carnaval festivities above.

Festivals like Carnaval celebrated world wide

As we mentioned earlier, there are lots of carnivals held in different elements of the world. Listed below are just some of probably the most well-known ones.

• Rio de Janeiro Carnival: Held in Brazil, that is the largest carnival on the planet: roughly two million individuals attend yearly. It begins the Friday earlier than Ash Wednesday. Together with unimaginable dancing, costumes and big floats and figures, you’ll hear a number of samba music and Brazilian Portuguese.
• Mardi Gras: This occasion takes place in New Orleans. Starting on Twelfth Evening–the final day of Christmas season, January 6–it goes by way of Fats Tuesday. With incredible parades, Cajun music, “Mardi Gras Indians” and nice meals, Mardi Gras is its personal particular carnival.
• Venice Carnevale: The carnival in Venice has been occurring for the reason that medieval interval…and a part of it occurs on the water! Crucial a part of Carnevale are the masks. Everyone wears one, typically with wealthy costumes evocative of the Renaissance.

Construct deeper connections with Colombian tradition and past

Whereas carnival traditions exist all around the world, we expect the Carnaval de Barranquilla has a particular taste like no different. With Afro-Caribbean rhythms, Spanish traditions, salsa and cumbia, breathtaking costumes and beautiful dances, Carnaval de Barranquilla—the largest carnival in Colombia and the second largest on the planet—celebrates life’s pleasures with 4 intense days of joyous human artistry inside a month-long celebration of Colombian tradition.

If you wish to join extra considerably to Colombian tradition, we suggest studying Spanish! Nothing is extra informative or extra significant than a dialog with the folks that hold the wonder and vibrancy of Colombian tradition alive. 

With Rosetta Stone, immersive, bite-sized classes make studying Spanish enjoyable, whereas TruAccent helps you sound superb out of your very first course. Plus, get entry to an entire number of language studying instruments you received’t get wherever else. 

Written by Rowena Galavitz 

Rowena Galavitz is a Spanish translator, bilingual copy editor, and language and literature teacher with three grasp’s levels who loves Spanish and all issues Mexico.