Barranquilla's Carnival

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Barranquilla's Carnival Carnaval de Barranquilla

Barranquilla's Carnival 2007 promotional poster.
Official name	Carnaval de Barranquilla
Observed by	Various locales, usually ones historically associated with Catholic populations
Type	Local, cultural, christian
Significance	Celebration prior to fasting season of Lent.
Date	Day before Ash Wednesday
2007 date	February 17, 18, 19 and 20.
Celebrations	Parades, parties, orchestas festival
Related to	Carnival

Barranquilla's Carnival (Spanish: Carnaval de Barranquilla) is a carnival with traditions that date back to the XIX century. It takes place for four days preceding Ash Wednesday. During the carnival the city of Barranquilla's normal activities are paralysed because the city gets busy with street dances, musical and masquerade parades. Barranquilla's Carnival is reputed for being second in size to Rio de Janeiro's but is far less commerciallised. The Barranquilla Carnival includes dances like the Spanish paloteo, African congo and indigenous mico y micas. Many styles of Colombian music are also performed, most prominently cumbia, and instruments include drums and wind ensembles. The Carnival of Barranquilla was proclaimed by UNESCO, in November of 2003, as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

[edit] Barranquilla's Carnival Timeline

1888: King Momo emerges as one of the main characters.

1899: The first president of the carnival is appointed.

1903: The first Battle of Flowers parade (Spanish: Batalla de las Flores) takes place.

1918: The first beauty queen of the carnival is elected. The queen is the person in charge of hosting the carnival's ceremonies.

1923: Beauty queen contests become an institution of the carnival. Until this time the contest had been suspended for 5 years.

1967: The first Great Parade takes place and takes place on the second day of the carnival, usually on Sundays.

1974: The first Guacherna takes place, the evento had the purpose of rescueing lost traditions of Cumbia and drums. Guachernas are celebrated in the suburbs (barrios).