Parades, tradition and fun! It's Carnival time!
After Christmas, our minds are set on the next big festivity: Carnival! It turns out that in Penedès region, Carnivals have very different origins and therefore, their representations are also very different. There are street parades in almost every little town, so Carnival may last several weekends, so all the ll the small municipalities, which last for several weekends to allow the participants, dressed in extravagant costumes, to dance and prance in every town. In addition, there are very prominent Carnivals with a lot of history, which are long-awaited events in the folkloric and festive calendar.
Published: January 2023
Vilanova i la Geltrú Carnival
Don't miss Dance of Mantons (traditional shawls), the comparsas, each one dressed distinctively or the candy war!
It is one of the most notorious celebrations of Vilanova y la Geltrú, the only Catalan carnival that survived Franco's dictatorship and that, to this day, continues to focus on satire. This unique festival has been recognized by the Catalan Government, declaring it a Heritage Festival of National Interest.
The Vilanova Carnival is seven days long, full of events that begin on "Fat Thursday" (Dijous Gras) with the Merengada and the traditional Xatonada. With the arrival of King Carnestoltes, on Friday, means the start of an intense weekend marked by traditional costumes and satire.
Sunday is the big day. The Carnival reaches one of its peaks with all the groups, called Comparses, dancing around the Town Hall Square. Around 70 flags represent the different groups, with women dressed with Manila shawls and men wearing the traditional barretina. They all carry a bag full of hard candies, dance to the rhythm of the music and start a candy battle, a very fun and colorful show. We recommend wearing the oldest shoes you own that day: they will be so sticky afterwards because of the floor covered in candy that you won't be able to wear them again...
The Vilanova Carnival is an institution, madly loved by its citizens, and anyone can breathe this atmosphere of great joy, a moment they have been waiting the whole year.
@ajuntamentvng @luzdcalle.
@reicarnestoltes_vilatranka
Vilafranca del Penedès Carnival
La cort del Rei Carnestoltes de Vilafranca del Penedès és una de les més descarades de la contrada. L’exhuberant Concubina, els més que entremaliats fills, en Confetinet i la Serpentineta, la Iaia, el cap de protocol, el torero, i tota una sèrie d’estrambòtics personatges arriben el dijous gras per apoderar-se del balcó de l’ajuntament per oferir un satíric pregó i demanar a tothom que aquests dies se saltin les normes.
Els actes estrella: l’Escorreguda de bars i el Ball de Gala el divendres, el show assegurat de la Cort passant per les parades del mercat del dissabte, i la tarda amb el carnaval infantil.
El dilluns sempre té lloc la mort del Rei Carnestoltes, retransmesa per Penedès Televisió. A vegades penjat per serpentines, ofegat per un ou, atropellat per un llit gegant… cada any d’una forma insòlita. El dimarts toca vetlla, dimecres enterro… i sí, la rua amb carrosses i disfresses al més pur estil brasiler es fa a la Rambla el divendres, amb el Rei ja mort. I per això s’anomena Rua de Resurrecció, on el jurat puntua vestits i carrosses per nomenar els guanyadors.
You should know...
Carnival days are frantic for everyone involved in floats and comparses. It is common for them to participate in as many carnival street parades of Penedès as possible, so they can show all the effort they have made in a year. This can easily mean parading through the streets of at least 6 different towns and dancing almost non-stop for two and a half weeks.
You can find carnival parades in the Penedès area in the villages of Les Cabanyes, La Múnia, Sant Martí Sarroca, Els Monjos, Sant Pere de Riudebitlles, Olèrdola, Cunit or Calafell. At the end, the comparses are eligible for a whole series of prizes, such as the best local and visiting float and best troupe and costume. Definitely, they are also set up for an unforgettable experience!