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Title: Mexico's Carnival, Fiesta Forever!
Author: Erick Laseca
Article:
It's more than just beads...
Looking for a unique Carnival (Carnaval in Spanish) experience
close to home with a foreign feel? Search no further than our
southern neighbor, México. Hosting an array of parades, parties,
concerts, culinary festivals, cultural programs and beauty
pageants, Mexican coastal cities offer Mardi Gras celebrations
comparable to those in New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro or anywhere
else in the world.
Celebrated the week prior to Ash Wednesday and normally lasting
a little less than a week, Carnival in Mexico has a long
tradition dating back to the nineteenth century. Coming from the
Latin word Carnavale, meaning "goodbye to the flesh," Carnival
refers to the week before Lent (Cuaresma), where carefree
abandonment and indulgence are encouraged.
Beauty Queens and Burning Moods, what else can you ask for?
Kick-off begins with the burning of El Mal Humor (Bad Mood), in
which an effigy, usually modeled after an unpopular politician
of the day, is hung and burned, followed by a flurry of confetti
and fireworks. This gives commencement to nearly a week of
festivities in some of Mexico's most popular coastal cities,
including Campeche, Mazatlan, Veracruz and Merida, just to name
a few.
Host cities celebrate all sorts of parades daily, depending on
the local carnival's theme, which differs from region to region.
Parades display an array of floats decoratively inspired by
Mexican scenery and normally featuring bright flowers and live
entertainment. Some parades require an entrance fee, and
visitors are advised to get tickets to the parade as soon as
they can through the local tourist office or hotel.
Mexpipe Challenge Surf Carnaval-February 16-20 For the first
time ever, a surf carnival has been added this year at Zacatela
beach in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. This festival with a
laid-back Woodstock-like atmosphere will take place on the beach
and will have D.J.S, a fashion show, electronic dance parties
and break dancing competitions as well as plenty of surf in the
Pacific Ocean.
Men and women can compete in surfing competitions as well as
enjoy the many festivities offered in conjunction with the
carnival. The Grand Carnival Parade takes place on Tuesday the
20th, followed by a costume contest and an awards ceremony at
Town Hall.
Mazatlan- February 8-20 Mazatlan, home to the third-largest
Carnival celebration in the world after those in New Orleans and
Rio de Janeiro, attracts more than 400,000 people each year.
From February 8 to 20, thrill-seekers fill the malecón
(oceanside promenade) running along downtown's Ollas Altas
beach, singing and dancing along roving mariachi bands. You can
also catch regional Sinaloenses bands with lots of brass, as
well as rock groups that set up along the way.
Food lovers can enjoy open-air culinary festivals in the Zona
Dorada (Golden Zone) and in Machado Plaza. Prominent dishes on
hand include Mazatlán's famous pescado zarandeado (barbecued
fish), camarones con mango (mango shrimp) and marlín ahumado
(smoked marlin). After enjoying some fresh seafood, Ollas Atlas
port offers a unique offshore fireworks presentation February 17
representing a mock naval battle, in commemoration of Mazatlan's
1864 victory over the French Navy.
Veracruz - February 13 - 21 Known for its
Afro-Caribbean-influenced culture, the port city of Veracruz on
the Gulf of Mexico hosts the second-largest Carnival in the
country. Parade-goers can expect to see Draculas, drag queens
and women in sparkling dresses dancing to the infectious
Caribbean/Spanish rhythms along Miguel Avila Camacho Boulevard.
Groups from neighboring villages dance in peacock and
pheasant-feathered headdresses. A must during Carnival in
Veracruz is dancing! Visitors should not miss the chance to
dance at the zocalo, or central square. Salsa, cumbia, reggae
and marimba are popular, but Jarochos (people from Veracruz)
hold a special place in their hearts for the music and dance
known as danzon, which first arrived from Cuba in 1880. For live
music, visit the zocalo and/or the malecon on February 21,
featuring Mexican artists.
And when they aren't dancing, there's nothing like sitting on
the banks of the Jamapa River in the nearby town of Boca del Rio
and enjoying succulent grilled huachinango (red snapper), or a
vuelve a la vida (Veracruz-style seafood cocktail, a well-known
hangover remedy) at bargain prices.
Cozumel - February 14-21 Known as one of the most popular
celebrations in the Mexican Caribbean, Cozumel has commemorated
this pre-Lenten celebration for nearly 100 years bringing
Carnaval to life in an exciting explosion of color and music.
Cozumel's unique celebration includes a variety of costumed
characters, such as Harlequins, rumba dancers, Spaniards, gypsy
women, fairies, princesses, bullfighters and kings and queens
that can be spotted during the week.
This carnival is also considered a family-friendly version of
the holiday and begins with the crowning of the emperor and
empress as well as the king and queen of Carnaval. As the week
progresses and the momentum builds, the island's celebration
continues with colorful parades, nightly street fairs and daily
musical performances and dancing throughout the streets of
downtown San Miguel.
Merida- February 14-21 The Yucatan Peninsula's capital city of
Merida is one of the many cities that celebrate Carnival, with
this year's theme centered on "The Circus". Since 1980, the
people of the Yucatan celebrate the marching of "El
Jacarandoso," a popular character who was once king of the
Carnival and annually displays the most colorful and amusing
costume. On Monday during Carnival week, the ladies don
hand-embroidered dresses and the gentlemen sparkling white
guayaberas, the dress shirts typical of the region.
Other important carnival destinations in Mexico include
Ensenada, Baja California; Guaymas, along the Sea of Cortez in
Sonora; Tepic, Nayarit; and Chamula, Chiapas, said to be one of
the most indigenous festivals in the country.
About the Mexico Tourism Board The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB)
brings together the resources of federal and state governments,
municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico's tourism
attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999,
the MTB is Mexico's tourism promotion agency, and its
participants include members of both the private and public
sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe,
Asia and Latin America.
# # #
Erick Laseca Mexico Tourism Board 312-228-0517 x14
erick.laseca@bm.com http://www.visitmexicopress.com
About the author:
Erick Laseca works for Burson-Marsteller as public relations
liaison for the Mexico Tourism Board in Chicago.
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