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 Leaflet about the carnival of Águilas
www.carnavaldeaguilas.com
CARNAVAL 2013: February 7th to 16th
Within the festive calendar of Águilas stands out the carnival celebrations declared a Tourist Interest of a National level since 1997.The carnival takes place before lent (between February and March) these very traditional carnivals have gone on for centuries. Seen as having a very deep anthropological root they date back from the roman era and were once celebrated in honour of the Momo (the god of laughter and ridicule). They also symbolise the celebrations in honouring Saturn or Saturnalia and of those honouring Jano, the lupercalias and the bread rite festivities. Without doubt these festivities are representative of the new year and are seen also as a way of celebrating the start of spring time; however throughout the years they have lost their pagan flavour, and subsequently are no longer recognised as a public holiday; however it is the people who are undoubtedly the real characters of this carnival.
The most important traditional factor of the carnival of Águilas is: the egg shells Los cascarones and the la cuerva (a refreshing drink).
During several months Los cascarones are kept safe. The empty egg shells (which by the way are not cut in the middle, but their contents are extracted very carefully through one of their sides) once dried are kept safe until a few days before the festivities to be filled with small colourful pieces of paper or confetti. The end of the egg shell is then covered by a piece of silk paper stuck on by a flour and water type paste. During the carnival days these are then broken on the head of any passer-by, friend or enemy, familiar or unfamiliar person with differing excuses: To make a joke, or to break the ice etc. It is thanks to los cascarones that the celebration of the battle of the egg shells has come about between don Carnal y doña Cuaresma this takes place on the Saturday evening where hundreds and thousands of egg shells filled with coloured paper are then thrown thus making the whole party appear more colourful.
La Cuerva is the official drink traditionally drunk throughout the carnival, easily found at any home, beach restaurant, (chiringuitos) bar or restaurant, as a matter of fact it can even be enjoyed for free in la Plaza de España on the evening of the Thursday. This drink is a kind of magic potion used for boosting energy giving the carnival goers more strength. Made from fruit, wine, certain spirits and soft drinks.
On the Friday the carnival celebrates The national Competition of Cuerva in which 100 members take part and are presided over by the Grand Cuerva Master. In some cases this title is awarded to some famous actor or sports personality. The jury goes around the bars, cafes, restaurants and chiringuitos in several groups while these struggle to make up the best mixture. The jury taste all of them awarding them different points until choosing the Super Cuerva this is a highly regarded award and is visibly exposed by whoever wins it given that this award offers prestige and merit to the local establishment.
THE MUSE
Deals with encouraging and arousing the necessary inspiration during the carnival’s days.
DON CARNAL
This figure represents, basically everything to do with the carnival: The colouring, the uproar and bustle, the enjoyment, critics, and the ridicule. He always appears to be accompanied by a great hullabaloo (brass bands, horns, and music).
DOÑA CUARESMA
This figure represents the opposite to Don Carnal.She normally appears dressed in a austere manner as if she was in mourning, like all her other supporters, she is also followed by a band in mourning.
On the Saturday of the carnival Don Carnal y Doña Cuaresma having gone around many of the town’s streets reunite by the town hall in order to start the battle of dialectics and the battle of Los cascarones. Obviously the winner always turns out to be Don. Carnal who then proceeds in parading around the carnival showing of his prize. This all finishes with the figure of Don Carnal being burnt during the Saturday de Piñata (La Piñata is a kind of large cloth doll) the winner is then named la Cuaresma until next year’s carnival.
LA MUSSONA
The figure of la Mussona signifies the duality between man and beast, the struggle between what is wild and what is civilised, the battle between order and chaos and is seen as a significant part of the carnival. la Mussona is someone rather ungracefully dressed with her entire body draped in tow; although nowadays these have developed into being mystical Mediterranean carnival figures, however they still preserve their traditional style owing to the fact that they are still made out of tow, grass and other similar material. Their star performance is on the Thursday of the carnival. They Set off from the castle’s dungeons accompanied by their followers passing through several of the town’s streets, until reaching La Glorieta. It is here his pistol is fired off hence representing the carnival’s departure.
Today’s modern carnival has been slowly changing now representing two kinds of the same thing: For instance today’s current carnival where luxury, beauty, the spectacular and the diverse groups of friends with their carnival floats all reign, then there is the early evening or night time carnival representing spontaneity, wit and craftiness. Plus the processions which take place on the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday of the carnival. Followed by the Saturday of Piñata (The first Saturday after the carnival).
Although masks can be seen throughout every night of the carnival; it is on the Monday night when everyone really gets dressed up, and this is when the never tiring humour and imagination of the people of Águilas shines through, thus passing on their energy and fun to all who visit their town.
The paper dress competition seems to hold more and more appeal every year. Given the delicate material used to design them, these dresses are presented within a special enclosure where every detail plus the material used to make them they can be better appreciated.
These carnivals are considered to be a century long traditional festivity bequeathed to us through several generations. They are seen as a shining flame that never goes out, loved and admired by the people to whom this flame is forever spreading an overflow of joyfulness, uproar and a basically happy ambiance.
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