Located on the northern Caribbean coast of Columbia, Barranquilla is the fourth largest city in Columbia. The Barranquilla carnival is one of the largest celebrations in South America. The festival boasts all types of native music and dancing with participants providing original dance styles and costumes. All types of musical instruments can be heard in the streets including: gaitas, porros, mpales, puyas, chandés, fandangos, cumbias, and fantásticos merecumbés.
The tradition of the Baranquilla carnival is thought to have originated when the Europeans brought their own traditions to South America, which then fused with native slave customs. Another theory is that the self-proclaimed president, General Carajo, started the tradition in 1903 when he began to celebrate in the middle of Ancha Street. Later, in 1983, the tradition of crowning a carnival queen began. After this, the carnival has continued to develop and fuse with other native customs into one large and prolonged celebration. Thus, Baranquilla has served as a preservation of native and non-native customs, and serves as a means of expressing Columbian heritage and diversity.
One of the highlights of the carnival is when Columbian dancers perform what is called the “Flower Battle”. This tradition again shows the unique heritage of Columbia, since it originated from an organized effort to replace war and violence with peace via flowers. Another main event is the Great Parade, during which viewers can witness African origin within the dances. The Dances of the Congo also serves to commemorate African origins, as it symbolizes the history of black forefathers and the eventual abolition of slavery in America. Finally, the carnival ends in what some may consider an extremely odd manner. The event is known as the “Burial of Joselito.” Joselito is thought to have been a coach driver who drank a bit too much one night, which was not usual for him. The natives mocked him and took him and his carriage to the cemetery in their besotted state. Cries to Joselito now end the Carnival every year.
This looks like a very interesting festival! I had never heard of Carnaval in any Latin American countries other than Brazil. It is also interesting to see that the festival was influenced from European traditions. Just another example of how cultures in Latin America are all mixed and influenced from various different regions.
merecumbés. 
1 comment:
This looks like a very interesting festival! I had never heard of Carnaval in any Latin American countries other than Brazil. It is also interesting to see that the festival was influenced from European traditions. Just another example of how cultures in Latin America are all mixed and influenced from various different regions.
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