Carnival season in Latin America takes place from the end of January to the beginning of March, right before Lent. The origin of these celebrations is unclear, but some people believe it was a Roman Catholic tradition brought to the American Continent by the European colonists. They believe the carnival to be a moment to celebrate before the deprivations of Lent. Others think carnivals derive from all the Pagan celebrations done thousands of years ago. Nevermind their origin, carnivals are now celebrated all across the continent.
The word “carnival” itself refers to the festivals that last between 2 days to 2 weeks, depending on the location. Even though each country has its own traditions, most festivities have lively dancing, loud music, colorful costumes, and street decoration. People from all ages walk in the street alongside “comparsas” of dancers and celebrate. It is also a way of showing the young and, also tourists, the culture and history of each place. Some of the Latin American countries that celebrate carnival are:
Every year the city of Guaranda dresses in colorful fabrics and decorations to celebrate the carnival season. Participants spend months preparing their costumes and parade carts for the three-day festivities. People throw foam and water to each other, eat delicious food, dance non-stop and even wear full costumes. In addition, the “coplas” sing songs in the Quechua language.
In Peru the carnival celebrations are a mixture of different traditions: Aimara, Quechua, and Mestiza. Most parades in Peru are quite big but the Carnaval de Puno is the largest of them all. Also known as the Celebración de la Virgen de la Candelaria, the city of Puno lies in the South of Peru. Peruvians go to Church and give thanks to the Virgin Mary. The Cholas, a group that follows old Peruvian traditions, wear very colorful clothes and do their typical seven dances.
Even though Carnival is celebrated across Argentina, the most famous festivity is the one that takes place in Gualeguaychú, in the province of Entre Ríos. It is longer than most celebrations as it lasts from January to March. There is a comparsa contest so each group of dancers to their best to come up with the best costumes, makeup and parade cart. Each dancer’s piece of clothing can have up to 2,500 feathers and sequins. At least 40,000 people visit Carnaval de Gualeguaychú every year, choose their favorite comparsa or even join one themselves.
Although Costa Rica loves celebrating carnival in every town, the most popular ones are the festivals celebrated in Punta Arenas and in Limon, which are internationally famous. The most distinctive feature of Costa Rican celebrations is that people watch comparsas, motorcyclists, and, also, masquerades (giants with painted faces). In addition, there are sports tournaments. It is celebrated in October, as it is the dry season and the climate is better for outdoor activities.
In Ecuador the biggest carnival celebration is the Carnival of Guaranda that takes place in the city of the same name. It is a mixture of typical carnival traditions but also aboriginal traditions. There are parades and masquerades as in Costa Rica and dancing shows as well.
Certainly, Latin America is known for its wonderful celebrations and rich history. Some traditions are of unknown origin as they are a mixture of many different cultures and religions. However, they all have one thing in common: they are so much fun!
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