Carnival, or what I consider a pseudo-Halloween in February, is a popular celebration that occurs just before the 40 days of lent. Carnival started in the 1850’s in Brazil when French Catholic colonists shared their pre-lent traditions with locals. Similar to Mardi Gras in Louisiana (started by the French as well in the 1700’s), normally a variety of activities is planned like parades, street parties, and costume competitions.
I normally only ever experience Carnival seeing little kids dressed up on the way to school and partiers on their way out or home (early in the morning). But this year I happened upon a costume and song competition in Segovia, a small town about an hour from Madrid.
Segovia is most known for its Roman aqueduct (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and just after strolling past it my friend and I saw a woman and her daughters dressed in Evil Queen and Snow White costumes. She told us that there was a costume and song competition in the main square as part of the Carnival celebrations. We followed them and the Magic Mirror (the father) to the square.
Upon entering the main square our attention was drawn away from the grandiose gothic-style cathedral to the hundreds of people dressed in elaborate costumes surrounding the main band stand watching the song competition. The groups of people, comparsas, were all dressed alike in very creative costumes and would go up on stage one group at a time to sing their sarcastically funny songs with original lyrics (many were about the economic situation or corrupt politicians). There were people dressed as chickens, Catholic school girls, Bavarians, and a famous Spanish chef called Alberto Chicote. After the song competition many groups stayed to socialize, dance to the music of a brass band, or to have an aperitivo, a pre-lunch drink, with friends. I love this about Spain, that people spend time out and about socializing and enjoying themselves whatever the event, rain or shine, chicken costume or not.
I normally only ever experience Carnival seeing little kids dressed up on the way to school and partiers on their way out or home (early in the morning). But this year I happened upon a costume and song competition in Segovia, a small town about an hour from Madrid.
Segovia is most known for its Roman aqueduct (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and just after strolling past it my friend and I saw a woman and her daughters dressed in Evil Queen and Snow White costumes. She told us that there was a costume and song competition in the main square as part of the Carnival celebrations. We followed them and the Magic Mirror (the father) to the square.
Upon entering the main square our attention was drawn away from the grandiose gothic-style cathedral to the hundreds of people dressed in elaborate costumes surrounding the main band stand watching the song competition. The groups of people, comparsas, were all dressed alike in very creative costumes and would go up on stage one group at a time to sing their sarcastically funny songs with original lyrics (many were about the economic situation or corrupt politicians). There were people dressed as chickens, Catholic school girls, Bavarians, and a famous Spanish chef called Alberto Chicote. After the song competition many groups stayed to socialize, dance to the music of a brass band, or to have an aperitivo, a pre-lunch drink, with friends. I love this about Spain, that people spend time out and about socializing and enjoying themselves whatever the event, rain or shine, chicken costume or not.