Carnival

Butterfly fairies for Carnival.


When I first arrived to Barcelona I had never heard of Carnival. It wasn't until a few days before the festivities started that I learned the history of Carnival. There are many explanations for the origin of the name. The most popular one is that the word comes from Italian “carne levare” which is derived from the Latin words “caro” meaning flesh or meat, and “vale” meaning goodbye or farewell. Therefore, "Carnival" literally means "goodbye to meat" which is significant as Carnival falls before Lent, a forty day and night fasting period.

Carnival is a festive season and the main events are usually held during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party. People often dress up in creative costumes during the celebrations. The outfits are not gruesome unlike the American holiday, Halloween.

There are many activities that occur during Carnival. Most of the festivities during the Barcelona Carnaval are in the neighborhoods of Barcelona, especially in the food markets. Some neighborhoods have their own parades and competitions for the children such as fancy dress and food and cooking competitions.

Carnival is also celebrated in Sitges, a popular holiday resort town in south of Barcelona. The atmosphere is very eccentric and the costumes are extravagant due to the large gay and lesbian community in Sitges. Most of the young people in Barcelona travel to Sitges to enjoy the parade, music, and night life on the beach.

My experience of Carnival at Sitges is one that I will never forget. The trains from Barcelona to Sitges were filled with people, we were like packed sardines. All the seats were taken and others were standing and sitting anywhere there was room. Once we arrived even the streets were flooded with people dressed up in all sorts of costumes, drinking and dancing. The performers in the parade were very outspoken and inappropriate to say the least, but it was all fun and games. After the parade, which went through the entire town, everyone migrated to the beach for a HUGE dance party. It was a night full of fun and one that will be ingrained in my memory for a lifetime.