Santa Cruz de La PalmaMonday, 23rd February LOS INDIANOS – the main event for most people. At one time many Palmerans left the island in search of a better life in the Caribean. Los Indianos celebratesthose who came home again stinking rich. Basically, almost everyone wears white, usually “Gone with the Wind” style dresses for the women, and suits and Panama hats for the men. Some people carry cardboard suitcases,…
FRIDAY, February 20Festival of Comparsas (Comparsas perform musical dance numbers)> 8 p.m. Carnival Stage SATURDAY, February 21Comparsas performance> 11.30 a.m. Plaza de España Big Talcum-Powder throwing party (NB, there’s a really good talc-throwing party in Santa Cruz on Monday)Music and Dancing with La Retranca, Libertad and Salsaludando orchestras> 1 p.m. Carnival stage More Music and Dancingwith the orchestras: Bolero, Libertad and Ricaband> 10 p.m. Carnival Scene SUNDAY, February 22 THIRD…
Spain celebrates Carnival in the week before the season of Lent. I always say people are making sure they have something really juicy to repent, but these days most people just regard it as a darn good excuse for a party. The funfair’s already here, and the main programme starts on Friday. Friday, 20th February 6 pm. Opening ParadeChildren from the schools and nurseries will parade from the Plaza de…
What are murgas when they’re at home? Well, they’re not murgas. They have to go out to do that. And they usually go out during Carnival. A murga is a large, costumed choir singing a medley of popular tunes with their own lyrics. The costumes can be quite elaborate, and run from clowns, demons, big, hairy blokes dressed as schoolgirls, Arabian princes, or fairies (usually the big, hairy blokes again.)…
Last night I went to the delayed Sardine’s Funeral in Los Sauces. I finally discovered why people say it’s better than the sardine’s funeral in Santa Cruz. They say it because it’s true. The crowd was far bigger than in Santa Cruz, and over half of them wore fancy dress – mostly Halloween theme costumes. This is my hairdresser. I didn’t recognise him until he spoke. First they had a…
Last night I went to the delayed Sardine’s Funeral in Los Sauces. I finally discovered why people say it’s better than the sardine’s funeral in Santa Cruz. They say it because it’s true. The crowd was far bigger than in Santa Cruz, and over half of them wore fancy dress – mostly Halloween theme costumes. This is my hairdresser. I didn’t recognise him nutil he spoke. First they had a…