Santa Cruz de La Palma’s funeral for the sardine is a comparatively quiet affair (note “comparatively” – I think more people went to the costume dance on Saturday). It was still fun.
The procession started with two of the sardine’s widows (posh-looking transvestites) followed by the Batuka (serious percussion) and jugglers, a fire eaters and a man on stilts. Next came the sardine itself, hand-carried by about ten men in costume, which I liked much better than having it on the back of a lorry. Behind that came most of the mourners.
When the procession reached the sea-front, the organisers pushed the crowd back, set light to the sardine, and lit the fireworks. Lots of fireworks!
