Editing Carnival (section)

====Spain====
[[File:GOYA - Entierro de la Sardina (Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, 1812-14).jpg|thumb|upright|''[[The Burial of the Sardine]]'', Francisco Goya, c. 1812]]

Arguably the most famous Carnivals in Spain are [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife|Santa Cruz]], [[Las Palmas]], [[Sitges]], [[Vilanova i la Geltrú]], [[Tarragona]], [[Águilas]], [[Solsona, Lleida|Solsona]], [[Cádiz]], [[Badajoz]], [[Bielsa]] (an ancestral Carnival celebration), [[Plan, Aragon|Plan]], [[San Juan de Plan]], [[Laza, Spain|Laza]], [[Verín]], Viana, and [[Xinzo de Limia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Unmissable Carnivals in Spain |url=https://www.spain.info/en/top/carnivals-spain/ |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=Spain.info |language=en}}</ref>

One of the oldest native Mediterranean carnival in Iberian peninsula takes place in [[Ituren]] and [[Zubieta]] in [[Navarre]] in late January/early February. The carnival symbolises the eternal struggle between the forces of good and evil, light and darkness, winter and spring.

=====Andalusia=====
{{Main|Carnival of Cádiz}}
[[File:Carnavaldecadiz.jpg|thumb|right|A choir singing in the [[Carnival of Cádiz]], in [[Cádiz]], [[Andalusia]], Spain]]

In [[Cádiz]], the costumes worn are often related to recent news, such as the [[Influenza A virus subtype H5N1|bird flu]] epidemic in 2006, during which many people were disguised as chickens. The feeling of this Carnival is the sharp criticism, the funny play on words and the imagination in the costumes, more than the glamorous dressings. It is traditional to paint the face with [[lipstick]] as a humble substitute of a mask.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://magazine.6tour.com/en/2016/01/carnevale-2016-mete-ed-eventi-in-italia/|title=Carnival 2016, celebrations around the world|date=2016-01-19|website=6tour MAGAZINE|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725045451/http://magazine.6tour.com/en/2016/01/carnevale-2016-mete-ed-eventi-in-italia/|archive-date=25 July 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The most famous groups are the [[chirigota]]s, choirs, and [[comparsa]]s. The chirigotas are well known witty, satiric popular groups who sing about politics, new times, and household topics, wearing the same costume, which they prepare for the whole year. The Choirs (''coros'') are wider groups that go on open carts through the streets singing with an orchestra of guitars and lutes. Their signature piece is the "Carnival Tango", alternating comical and serious repertory. The comparsas are the serious counterpart of the chirigota in Cádiz, and the poetic lyrics and the criticism are their main ingredients. They have a more elaborated [[polyphony]] that is easily recognizable by the typical [[countertenor]] voice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Torres |first=Javier |date=2012-02-21 |title=The Carnival of Cádiz {{!}} choirs, chirigotas, spain, couplet, pasodoble |url=https://www.inmsol.com/blog/carnival-cadiz/ |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=iNMSOL |language=en-US}}</ref>

=====Canary Islands=====
{{See also|Carnival of Las Palmas|Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife}}

The Santa Cruz Carnival is, with the Carnival of Cadiz, the most important festival for Spanish tourism and Spain's largest Carnival.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jorge |url=http://fiestas.edreams.es/Carnival/el-Carnival-de-tenerife/ |title=Fiestas de España. El Carnival de Tenerife |publisher=Fiestas.edreams.es |access-date=12 February 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| author=A. A. |url=http://www.tenerife-abc.com/Carnival/ |title=El Carnival de Tenerife |publisher=Tenerife-abc.com |access-date=12 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221090409/http://www.tenerife-abc.com/Carnival/ |archive-date=21 February 2014 }}</ref><ref>[[:es:Santa Cruz de Tenerife#Ciudades hermanadas|Ciudades hermanadas con Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Wikipedia]]{{Circular reference|date=April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.santacruzmas.com/SantaCruzMas.asp?IdMenu=4&IdSeccion=39&IdSubseccion=129 |title=Ciudades hermanadas con Santa Cruz de Tenerife |publisher=Santacruzmas.com |access-date=12 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716004257/http://www.santacruzmas.com/SantaCruzMas.asp?IdMenu=4&IdSeccion=39&IdSubseccion=129 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1980, it was declared a Festival Tourist International Interest. Every February, [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]], the capital of the largest of the [[Canary Islands]], hosts the event, attracting around a million people.<ref name="santacruzmas.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.santacruzmas.com/SantaCruzMas09.asp?IdMenu=10&IdSeccion=41&IdSubseccion=238|title=Santacruzmas.com|accessdate=11 March 2023}}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

[[File:Contestant Angeles Hernández Paez performs during the Tenerife Carnival Queen 2009 contest in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.jpg|thumb|left|Carnival Queen of [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]], [[Canary Islands]], Spain]]

In 1980, it was declared a Festival Tourist International Interest.<ref name="santacruzmas.com"/> In 1987, [[Cuba]]n singer [[Celia Cruz]] with orchestra [[Billo's Caracas Boys]] performed at the "Carnival Chicharrero", attended by 250,000 people. This was registered in the ''[[Guinness Book of World Records]]'' as the largest gathering of people in an outdoor plaza to attend a concert, a record she holds today.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-05 |title=Celia Cruz's Guinness Record: The Day the Queen of Salsa Captivated 250,000 People in Tenerife |url=https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2025-01-05-u1-e199370-s27065-nid294900-record-guinness-celia-cruz-dia-reina-salsa-conquisto#google_vignette |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=CiberCuba |language=en}}</ref>

The Carnival of [[Las Palmas]] ([[Gran Canaria]]) has a drag queen's gala where a jury chooses a winner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.islandconnections.eu/1000003/1000043/0/47133/daily-news-article.html|title=Las Palmas gets its Carnival Drag Queen at last – Daily News – Gran Canaria – ISLANDCONNECTIONS.EU|website=islandconnections.eu|access-date=3 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204001525/http://www.islandconnections.eu/1000003/1000043/0/47133/daily-news-article.html|archive-date=4 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=====Catalonia=====
[[File:Vidalot.jpg|thumb|upright|''Vidalot'' is the last night of revelry before Ash Wednesday in [[Vilanova i la Geltrú|Vilanova]], [[Catalonia]], Spain. Water color painting by Brad Erickson.]]

In [[Catalonia]], people dress in masks and costume (often in themed groups) and organize a week-long series of parties, pranks, outlandish activities such as bed races, street dramas satirizing public figures, and raucous processions to welcome the arrival of ''Sa Majestat el Rei Carnestoltes'' ("His Majesty King Carnival"), known by various titles, including ''el Rei dels poca-soltes'' ("King of the crackpots"), ''Princep etern de Cornudella'' ("eternal Prince of Cuckoldry"), {{lang|ca|Duc de ximples i corrumputs}} ("Duke of the fool and corrupt"), ''Marquès de la bona mamella'' ("Marquis of the lovely breast"), ''Comte de tots els barruts'' ("Count of the insolent"), ''Baró de les Calaverades'' ("Baron of mocturnal debaucheries"), and {{lang|ca|Senyor de l'alt Plàtan florit, dels barraquers i gamberrades i artista d'honor dalt del llit}} ("Lord of the tall blooming Banana, of the voyeurs and punks and the artist of honor upon the bed").<ref>Erickson, Brad. 2008. ''Sensory Politics: Catalan Ritual and the New Immigration''. University of California, Berkeley. pp. 123–4</ref>

The King presides over a period of misrule in which conventional social rules may be broken and reckless behavior is encouraged. Festivities are held in the open air, beginning with a ''cercavila'', a ritual procession throughout the town to call everyone to attend. ''Rues'' of masked revelers dance alongside. On Thursday, ''Dijous Gras'' (Fat Thursday) is celebrated, also called 'omelette day' (el ''dia de la truita''), on which ''[[coca (pastry)|coques]]'' ({{lang|ca|de llardons, butifarra d'ou, butifarra}}), and [[omelette]]s are eaten. The festivities end on Ash Wednesday with elaborate funeral rituals marking the death of King Carnival, who is typically burned on a [[pyre]] in what is called the "burial of the [[sardine]]" (''enterrament de la sardina''), or, in Vilanova, as ''l'enterro''.<ref name="Erickson, Brad 2008">Erickson, Brad. 2008. Sensory Politics: Catalan Ritual and the New Immigration. University of California, Berkeley.</ref>

The Carnival of [[Vilanova i la Geltrú]] has a documented history from 1790<ref name="Garcia, Xavier 1972">Garcia, Xavier. 1972. ''Vilanova i la Geltrú i el seu gran Carnaval''. Barcelona: Editorial Pòrtic.</ref> and is one of the richest in the variety of its acts and rituals. It adopts an ancient style in which satire, the [[grotesque body]]<ref name=Bakhtin/> (particularly [[cross-dressing]] and displays of exaggerated bellies, noses, and phalli), and, above all, active participation are valued over glamorous, media-friendly spectacles that Vilanovins mock as "thighs and feathers".<ref>''Diari de Vilanova''. 2006. "Surten 50 carrosses a rebre un Carnestoltes que no ve". 24, 22 February.</ref> It is best known for ''Les Comparses'', a tumultuous dance held on Sunday in which thousands of dancers in traditional dresses and ''Mantons de Manila'' (Manila Shawls), organized into groups of couples march in the street forming lines while throwing tons of hard candies at one another. Vilanovinians organize several rituals during the week. On ''Dijous Gras,'' Vilanovin children are excused from school to participate in the ''Merengada,'' a day-long scene of eating and fighting with sticky, sweet [[meringue]] while adults have a meringue battle at midnight at the historic ''Plaça de les Cols''.

[[File:Merengada.jpg|thumb|Children become covered in meringue during Dijous Gras, in Vilanova, Catalonia, Spain]]

On Friday citizens are called to a parade for the arrival of King Carnival called ''l'Arrivo'' that changes every year. It includes a raucous procession of floats and dancers lampooning current events or public figures and a bitingly satiric sermon (''el sermo'') delivered by the King himself. On Saturday, the King's procession and his [[concubine]]s scandalize the town with their sexual behavior; the mysterious ''Moixo Foguer'' (Little-Bird-Bonfire) is shown accompanied by the ''Xerraire'' (jabberer), who try to convince the crowd about the wonders that this mighty bird carries in a box (which ends up being in fact a naked person covered in feathers);<ref>''Diari de Vilanova''. 2006. "Plomes amb control sanitari per al Moixó". 24 February 23.</ref> and other items such as: sport acts and barbecues in the streets; the ''talking-dance'' of the Mismatched Couples (''Ball de Malcasats''); the children's King ''Caramel'' whose massive belly, long nose and sausage-like hair hint at his insatiable appetites; or the debauched ''Nit dels Mascarots'' dance.

[[File:Malcasats.jpg|thumb|The Ball de Malcasats (Dance of the Mismatched Couples) is a satiric talking-dance traditional to Carnaval in Vilanova, Catalonia, Spain.]]

After Sunday, vilanovinians continue its Carnival with the children's party ''Vidalet'', the satirical chorus of Carnestoltes songs and the last night of revelry, the ''Vidalot.'' For the King's funeral, people dress in elaborate mourning costume, many of them cross-dressing men who carry bouquets of phallic vegetables. In the funeral house, the body of the King is surrounded by weeping concubines, crying over the loss of sexual pleasure brought about by his death. The King's body is carried to the ''Plaça de la Vila'' where a satiric eulogy is delivered while the townspeople eat salty grilled sardines with bread and wine, suggesting the symbolic [[Human cannibalism|cannibalism]] of the communion ritual. Finally, amid rockets and explosions, the King's body is burned in a massive pyre.<ref name="Erickson, Brad 2008"/><ref name="Garcia, Xavier 1972"/>

[[File:Rucs de Solsona.jpg|thumb|upright|Donkeys of [[Solsona, Lleida|Solsona]], Catalonia, Spain, hung in the tower bell]]

Carnaval de Solsona takes place in [[Solsona, Lleida]]. It is one of the longest; free events in the streets and nightly concerts run for more than a week. The Carnival is known for a legend that explains how a donkey was hung at the tower bell − because the animal wanted to eat grass that grew on the top of the tower. To celebrate this legend, locals hang a stuffed donkey at the tower that "pisses" above the excited crowd using a water pump. This event is the most important and takes place on Saturday night. For this reason, the inhabitants are called ''matarrucs'' ("donkey killers").<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.onsortir.cat/contents/1027/so/612.jpg |title=OnSortir |work=onsortir.cat |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219004539/http://www.onsortir.cat/contents/1027/so/612.jpg |archive-date=19 February 2010 }}</ref>

"Comparses" groups organize free activities. These groups of friends create and personalize a uniformed suit to wear during the festivities.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}

In [[Sitges]], special feasts include {{lang|ca|xatonades}} (''[[xató]]'' is a traditional local salad of the Penedès coast) served with omelettes. Two important moments are the ''Rua de la Disbauxa'' (Debauchery Parade) on Sunday night and the ''Rua de l'Extermini'' (Extermination Parade) on Tuesday night.<ref>{{cite web |title=Protocol del Carnaval de Sitges |url=http://www.sitges.cat/ja-es-carnaval/fitxers/protocol-carnaval-03122015.pdf |publisher=Ajuntament de Sitges |access-date=14 August 2022 |language=ca |archive-date=28 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928194552/http://www.sitges.cat/ja-es-carnaval/fitxers/protocol-carnaval-03122015.pdf |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> In 2022, the Rua de la Disbauxa hosted 34 floats and over 1,200 participants.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sàtira i espectacularitat, protagonistes de la Rua de la Disbauxa |url=https://www.sitges.cat/serveis/festes/actualitat/noticies/satira-i-espectacularitat-protagonistes-de-la-rua-de-la-disbauxa |website=Ajuntament de Sitges |access-date=14 August 2022 |language=ca |date=28 August 2022 |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307104948/https://www.sitges.cat/serveis/festes/actualitat/noticies/satira-i-espectacularitat-protagonistes-de-la-rua-de-la-disbauxa |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Tarragona]] has one of the region's most complete ritual sequences. The events start with the building of a huge barrel and ends with its burning with the effigies of the King and Queen. On Saturday, the main parade takes place with masked groups, zoomorphic figures, music, and percussion bands, and groups with [[fireworks]] (the devils, the dragon, the ox, the female dragon). Carnival groups stand out for their clothes full of elegance, showing brilliant examples of fabric crafts, at the Saturday and Sunday parades. About 5,000 people are members of the parade groups.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}

=====Galicia=====
In [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], the celebration is commonly known as ''Entroido'', or otherwise ''Antroido'', ''Entroiro'', ''Entruido'' or ''Entrudio''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://portaldaspalabras.gal/video/antroido-ou-entroido/|title="Antroido ou Entroido". Pregúntalle á Academia|language=Galician|access-date=25 February 2023|archive-date=17 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217184307/https://portaldaspalabras.gal/video/antroido-ou-entroido/|url-status=live}}</ref> Throughout history, the cities, towns and villages of Galicia had poor connections between each other, so ''Entroidos'' are very diverse with different cultural traditions and characters based in the zone you're in. Nine Entroido celebrations have been declared as places of touristic interest in Galicia: [[Xinzo de Limia]], [[Santo Adrán de Cobres|Cobres]], [[Laza, Spain|Laza]], [[Verín]], [[Felos de Maceda]], [[Xenerais do Ulla]], [[Vilariño de Conso]], [[Androlla]] and [[Viana do Bolo]] and [[Manzaneda]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.turismo.gal/localizador-de-recursos/-/sit/que_hacer/fiestas/fiestas_de_interes_turistico/galicia?langId=es_ES|title=Fiestas de interés turístico en Galicia|language=es-ES|access-date=25 February 2023|archive-date=25 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225235334/https://www.turismo.gal/localizador-de-recursos/-/sit/que_hacer/fiestas/fiestas_de_interes_turistico/galicia?langId=es_ES|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Cigarrones.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Cigarrón'', the typical character of the Entroido, in [[Verín]], [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], Spain]]

In [[Galician cuisine]], there are various traditional dishes of ''Entroido'', such as ''Filloas'' (a dish similar to [[crêpe]]s) and ''Orellas'' (A traditional dish of [[Catalonia]] and the [[Valencian Community]], but also traditionally served in Galician and [[France|French]] carnivals). Other traditional foods include [[Chorizo]], [[Lacón]], [[Broth|Caldo]], [[Androlla]] and [[Pork|Pig Heads]].

[[File:Filloas.jpg|thumb|''Filloas'', a [[crêpe]]-like typical dish served in Galician Entroidos]]

===== Valencian Community =====
One of the most important Spanish Carnival Festivals is celebrated in [[Vinaròs]], a small town situated in the northern part of the [[province of Castellón]], [[Valencian Community]].

The Carnival Festival in Vinaròs has been declared of Regional Touristic Interest and in 2017, this outstanding and ancient show celebrated 35 years of History. The Carnival Festival in Vinaròs became a forbidden celebration during the [[Spanish Civil War]] but after the dictatorship, the party regained importance with the democracy's arrival.

Every year in February, forty days before the Spanish [[Cuaresma]], thirty-three "comparsas" go singing, dancing and walking down the streets in a great costumes' parade in Vinaròs. In addition, many other festive, cultural and musical activities of all ages take place, such as an epic battle of confetti and flour, funny karaoke contests or the so-called "[[Entierro de la Sardina]]" (Burial of the Sardine).

Nevertheless, the most important event is the gala performance of the Carnival's Queen. In this breathtaking show, it is elected the Queen of the Carnival, the major representative of the Carnival in Vinaròs all year round.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.slowlivingmediterraneo.com/lets-get-dressed-up-spanish-carnival-festival-in-vinaros/|title=Let's get dressed up! Spanish Carnival Festival in Vinaròs – Slow Living Mediterráneo|date=16 February 2017|newspaper=Slow Living Mediterráneo|access-date=22 February 2017|language=es-ES|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207004954/http://www.slowlivingmediterraneo.com/lets-get-dressed-up-spanish-carnival-festival-in-vinaros/|archive-date=7 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>