C A R N I V A L
We booked into Hotel Cozumel and Resort the day Carnival festivities began. In the weeks before the main events there is also an exciting program of "pre-Carnival" warm-up events, including the presentation and election of Carnival Kings and Queens, with dancing, performances, and live music from top singers and groups. The main entertainment stretches from February 22-25 this year and culminates with Mardi-Gras on Fat Tuesday (25th).
According to its website, Cozumel's Carnival has a history of over 140 years, making it one of the oldest in the country. It is, with the Carnival of Campeche, the only one that has preserved expressions of historical value in the Yucatan Peninsula, and has become an event of heritage for the state of Quintana Roo. It is distinguished by its long history, its cultural aspects, its organization and its family character.
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In 1876, La Revista de Merida magazine, first recorded the event.
According to word-of-mouth, in 1896 costume competitions and ribbon dancing were organized during Carnival and a wooden bull called Huacax-xhé was made.
In 1904, for the first time, Don Manuel Vivas Martín, together with a baker from Campeche, introduced the Guaranducha to the Carnival. This traditional musical performance is thought to be from Cuba originally, but was made popular in Campeche.
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| Just amigos from the hood on the way to the play. |
In this musical play, the heros are played by blacks, and although all the parts are all female, all the actors are male.
Just before the 1920s, Félix González Bonastre arrived to the island from Tabasco and became involved in the event.
He helped with the organization of student music groups, songs and social reviews for the Guaranducha.
From then on, the Guaranducha was enthusiastically supported by carnaveleros and finally, in the 1940s, women were also able to take part for the first time.
Like the island's economy, Cozumel's Carnival went through the doldrums in the early 1970s. It was rescued again by the Municipal Government in 1975, when the fiesta received a new impetus and regained popularity with locals.
Today, the tradition strengthens every year, as this safe, popular, family celebration continues to grow. The glamor and happiness that new generations have inherited help to ensure that Cozumel's Carnival will always be the best in the state.
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We went on a walk and took pictures, probably too many ... |
| Dancing girls lead the parade and festivities. |
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| Numerous floats, different themes. |
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| Lots of Princesses ... |
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| ... and Princes. |
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| Everyone smiles and greets, many sing and dance and throw beads. |
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| Not on a float ... dress up anyway. |
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| Some costumes are quite elaborate. |
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| Steady dancing throughout the parade. |
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| One of the several pairs of King and Queen. |
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| There's about 4 kms of crowd that line the street in both directions. |
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| Everyone dresses up. |
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| Marching bands, jazz bands, rock bands ... sometimes the music gets mixed. |
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| Everyone wants their photo taken. |
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All photography is by LOAFin Around, unless noted.
And finally, here's a link to our complete Trip 150 Cozumel MEXICO photo gallery.
And finally, here's a link to our complete Trip 150 Cozumel MEXICO photo gallery.
Wry and Crusty ...
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