CARNIVAL IN GALICIA

Carnival is a typical festival in Galicia or, as we call it, Entroido. It is celebrated forty days before Good Friday (Easter), usually around February.

This celebration lasts from Saturday to Wednesday, but the main holiday is on Tuesday (Carnival Tuesday in Spain or Shrove Tuesday in other countries). Children don't go to school and people don't work in several cities and towns all over Galicia.

First of all, we can see different old traditions in each village or town... although all of them have something in common. People wear costumes and there are parades along roads and streets where men, women and children enjoy themselves dancing and smiling. In the end, the best costume wins a prize in a contest.

Apart from that, the most famous places where Carnival is celebrated are: Verín, Laza and Xinzo in Ourense. These three towns are called the magic triangle because of their situation on the map. Here they have their own hand-made costumes called peliqueiros, cigarróns and pantallas. Their origin is unknown but it is said that they look like the medieval tax collectors from this region. This costume can weigh around 25 kilos and it's especially made for the owner. Besides that, it usually costs a fortune, but people want to have one as part of their cultural identity. Peliqueiros spend time running in the street all day and smoothly hitting other people to make fun of them.


In A Coruña, my home-town, people often use different garments that you can easily find at home (for example, your grandmother's old-fashioned dresses which she doesn't use anymore) to go out during Carnival time... and this costume is what we call choqueiro.
In Lugo a battle between people throwing ants or fighting with a false bear are ways of remembering our ancestors' traditions and have fun.

Finally, I shouldn't forget that in Galicia food is essential in every party and Carnival is not an exception. We eat for the main course salty pork's meat (lacón) with a kind of vegetables (grelos, that is turnip tops) as well as pork sausages (chorizo)...Desserts are very tasty and there are a variety of them, such as filloas (similar to pancakes or crêpes) and orellas (ear-shaped pancakes) which are delicious. In the past those desserts were cooked over a hot stone.

After these exhausting days, Galicia celebrates the end of the Carnival with the burial of the sardine to symbolize that the party is over.

In conclusion, Carnival is an outstanding celebration in Galicia as part of our culture. We really have a very good time every year.

Ana Larrea Anllo
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