Carnival of Sitges 2012
The Carnival of Sitges 2012 is fast approaching! An astounding and entertaining show with daring parades which has become one of the most popular carnivals in Spain. This year, the Carnival of Sitges will be held from the 16th to the 22nd of February. Here’s what you can expect…
This beautiful coastal town owes a large part of its popularity to this carnival which could even out shadow the stunning summer months events in Spain with the activities celebrated throughout, alluring thousands of visitors to Sitges every year. The Carnival of Sitges is a wild, noisy and fun fiesta with lots of dancing and merrymaking on the promenade and in the town centre until well into the early hours of the morning.
The lovely parades with original makeup and imaginative outfits featuring an abundance of feathers, as well as sequined, stone encrusted and daring costumes transform Sitges into an explosion of colour.
Sitges is globally recognised as a gay culture icon, and has been a symbol against intolerance and repression for decades. There is a splendid gay and lesbian atmosphere in the festival resulting from the liberal and relaxed attitude enjoyed throughout the celebrations.
The Carnival of Sitges celebrations kick off on Jueves Lardero (Fat Thursday), with a firework show on the seafront announcing the arrival of the king of the festival, His Majesty Carnestoltes (Forbidden Meat) and the Carnival Queen. Together with their entourage they take over the Town Hall and carry out the “predicot” comprising a satirical speech giving permission for everyone to enjoy themselves and have fun in the crazy celebrations. The carnival is then officially opened and the streets in Sitges beat in time with the celebrations.
In the evening they celebrate “xatonadas”. Xato is a typical sauce of the area made with nuts and nora pepper (dried mild red pepper) that usually accompanies salads prepared with anchovies and cod. Coca de chicharrones (sort of a pine nut and pork crackling pastry) and butifarra de huevo (egg sausage) are also typically eaten during the Carnival of Sitges.
On Saturday the Children’s celebrations take place and also the fun “Cursa de llits disfressats” (Bed Race). However, the highlight of the Sitges Carnival has to be the two parades, the Rua de la Disbauxa (the Debauchery Parade) and the Rua del Extermini (Extermination Parade) taking place on Sunday and Tuesday night respectively.
These carnival parades are true works of creative art with extravagant make up, original dance moves, huge sound systems, drag queens, fun masks and fantasy costumes, etc. More than 50 floats and thousands of participants pass through the streets of the town making Sitges vibrate to the beat of the music.
The Carnival of Sitges comes to an end on Ash Wednesday with the burial of King Carnestoltes following the reading of his will. A Carnestoltes doll is traditionally burned on a bonfire marking the end of this grotesque ceremony.
The Carnival of Sitges is, together with the Carnival of Cadiz, one of the most entertaining and lively in Spain. Renting an apartment in Sitges will allow you to discover this charming town and enjoy the great atmosphere to the full.
Laura - Marketing Team