Carnival is here!

Carnival is a traditional festival celebrated around February. Its origins are considered to be found in the Christian tradition of Lent, where believers were obliged to practice sexual abstinence, avoid eating meat, and avoid any kind of luxury. Carnival was, thus, a chance to celebrate before Lent, to let go of oneself and enjoy.

Although this is considered to be its typical origin, similar festivities can be traced back to earlier times, where people dressed up and partied as a celebration of the spring season, in order to ask the Gods for good harvests and good fortune. It was also a sexual celebration, where young people could meet each other and engage.


Nowadays, carnival is a very heterogeneous celebration, which varies greatly from one country to another, and from one city to another.
One of the most renowned carnivals is that of Brazil, especially in Rio de Janeiro, where people dance and parade in elaborate homemade costumes, play music, and stay up throughout the night.
Here in Spain, the most well known are probably those of La Palma de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where people wear themed costumes. A typical event in these celebrations is the election of a Carnival Queen.

In essence, Carnival is a chance to let go of one’s preoccupations and enjoy!