Culture: Carnaval

Every year in the United States, we celebrate Mardi Gras as the kick-off to lent. The streets are filled with people celebrating and doing everything that would be prohibited for the next forty days. In Alicante, they have a similar celebration, but it is called Carnaval.

The biggest difference between Carnaval and Mardi Gras is that Carnaval comes decked out with costumes. As my host family explained to me, Carnaval is very similar to the United State’s Halloween. Everyone from babies to adults dress up in creative costumes and go out to celebrate. On the night of Carnaval, the streets of Alicante came alive. There were so many people on the main street that it was hard to move. I could barely push my way through the vampires, pirates, giant babies and clowns. But it didn’t even matter because I could hear the music, drums and people from a mile away. There was a parade with floats, dancers performing and people playing instruments. Lights were strung between palm trees and everyone was drinking.

I learned in my Pop Culture class that Carnaval has a significant historical meaning beyond the parties and costumes. Carne, which means meat, is one of the main parts of CARNaval. A long time ago, during Lent, Spaniards could not eat meat. So it was during Carnaval that they would eat as much meat as they could before it was prohibited. Since then it has become a great celebration like that of Mardi Gras.