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Barranquilla's Carnival
'''Barranquilla's Carnaval''' is a carnival with traditions that date back to the 19th century. It takes place for four days preceding Ash Wednesday. During the carnival the city of Barranquilla's normal activities are paralyzed because the city gets busy with street dances, musical and masquerade parades. Barranquilla's Carnival is reputed for being second in size to Rio's, but is far less commercialized. The Barranquilla Carnival includes dances like the Spanish paloteo, African congo and indigenous mico y micas. Many styles of Colombian music are also performed, most prominently cumbia, and instruments include drums and wind ensembles. The Carnival of Barranquilla was proclaimed by UNESCO, in November of 2003, as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, during Olga Lucia Rodriquez carnival queen year.
Barranquilla's Carnival Timeline
1888: King Momo emerges as one of the main characters.
1899: The first president of the carnival is appointed.
1903: The first Battle of Flowers parade '''' takes place.
1918: The first beauty queen of the carnival is elected. The queen is the person in charge of hosting the carnival's ceremonies.
1923: Beauty queen contests become an institution of the carnival. Until this time the contest had been suspended for 5 years.
1967: The first Great Parade takes place and takes place on the second day of the carnival, usually on Sundays.
1974: The first Guacherna takes place, the evento had the purpose of rescueing lost traditions of Cumbia and drums. Guachernas are celebrated in the suburbs (barrios).
2003: The Carnival of Barranquilla was proclaimed by UNESCO as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
See also
Carnival in Colombia
Festivals in Colombia
Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
External links
Barranquilla Carnival Official Web Site
Carnaval de Barranquilla at MUSICASALSA.DE (pictures)
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Barranquilla's Carnival
