Carnival

Every week I ask my students what they did the past weekend and what they'll be up to this weekend only to receive the same answer day in and day out: "I go to party".  After ignoring their lack of grammatical command, I think to myself, "Of course, this is Spain,".  If there is one thing that Spain is exceptionally good at, it's partying (and striking/protesting, but that's another topic in itself).  This week was the cremé de la cremé of the Spanish festivals.

(Additional photos available at lizenespana.blogspot.com)

Carnival, unlike our Halloween, has deeply rooted traditions and a complex history.  First and foremost, it is a Catholic based festival that revolves around Lent and Easter.  Many believe that Carnival comes from either Italian carne levare, meaning "to remove meat", or from the Late Latin expression carne vale, which means "farewell to meat" (wikipedia).  Hence, the celebration originally was one last day to gorge oneself on meat before the forty day meat fast.  Nowadays, most of the world tends to use this faith-based idea to dress up and gorge ourselves on whatever sinful vice we desire.  Sounds good to me.

The top three festival destinations are in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, Venice, Italy, and Tenerife, Spain.  However, due to Spain's comfortable climate and willingness to party for days on end, several other reputable alternatives to the big three have sprung up.  Cadiz in the south of Spain has attracted a large number of national and foreign youth who lack the funds to travel to Tenerife.  The general theme of this celebration is party from sun up to sun up, a constant state of incoherence that those with weak stomachs should avoid.  The sanitation and mentality would be similar to that of Woodstock, but replacing the live music with costumes.  It strikes a resemblance Mardi Gras, which corresponds with Ash Wednesday on the Lent calendar.

Since being in Spain twice now during this festival I have learned several things about this festival.  Although a few places are catered to young adults or middle aged people experiencing a mid-life crisis, many places hold family friendly events as well.  It's no longer a one-and-done situation, but an almost everyday party.  Little children wear their costumes all week and for the most part their parents participate in their children's fantasy.  Most people are content with spending Carnival in their little towns and villages and have no desire to head to the popular tourist filled destinations in their neighboring towns.

Basic Spanish

el coche : car

Advanced Spanish:

Replica : Aftershock

Basque:

n/a

British English:
bauble : christmas ornaments 
fairy lights : white christmas lights