The Spanish festivals of Shrove Tuesday
When it comes to hosting traditional yet thoroughly explosive festivals, Spain has to be among the world leaders. So why should Shrove Tuesday celebrations be any different?
If you’re heading to the colourful land of Spain sometime soon and are keen to sample some authentic Spanish culture, you may want to head to one of the many Shrove Tuesday celebrations put on throughout mainland Spain and its islands. Here are two, for starters…
Verin Carnival, Galicia
The Verin Carnival in the town of Verin, Galicia is centred Shrove Tuesday. Festivities will take place in this ancient town from 20 February until 9 March, 2014. One of the carnival’s highlights is a great rumbustious flour fight which takes place in the main square. The carnival kicks off with fireworks on what is known as ‘Corredoiro Sunday’, when masked men run through the streets of Verin encouraging one and all to join in with the party.
Street musicians play and Verin comes alive with the sounds of the fiesta. On ‘Women’s Thursday’ the women of Verin get dressed up and go out for dinner, which is the official start of the carnival. It seems that the Spaniards love of a fiesta is so great that they need a special party to introduce the arrival of a party!
Cadiz Carnival
Moving away from Verin to the opposite end of Spain another Shrove Tuesday fiesta takes place, equally as colourful and exciting. The Cadiz Carnival will be held from 27 February until March 9, 2014. Processions take place at both ends of the festival period. You can expect all the typical Spanish carnival splendour in Cadiz, with bands, fancy dress, choirs and chirigotas (satirical groups of performers), mutually contributing to the success of the fair.
These Shrove Tuesday carnivals are held with slight variations in many Spanish villages, towns and cities. They are designed to mark the beginning of Lent where Christian believers are supposed to give up eating rich food.
In Britain we mark Shrove Tuesday by eating pancakes, the Spanish in Verin have a flour fight! Well at least there is some kind of connection between the two countries’ Shrove Tuesday celebrations – A drastically different use of flour!