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Carnaval de Ponce
Afiche del Carnaval Ponceño 2011, in Ponce, Puerto Rico.jpg
Poster bill of the 2011 Carnaval de Ponce, celebrated 2–8 March 2011, in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Official name Carnaval Ponceño
Also called Carnaval de Ponce
Type Local, cultural
Celebrations Parades, parties, dances, music, food
Date Week before Ash Wednesday
2024 date 14-17 February
2025 date 21 February – 4 March
Frequency Annual
First time 1858
Related to Lent

The Carnaval de Ponce, also known as the Ponce Carnival, is a huge, colorful festival held every year in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. This exciting celebration is one of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere. It has been a tradition since 1858!

The festival lasts for one week and ends on the day before Ash Wednesday. This is a Christian holiday that marks the beginning of Lent. Because of this, the carnival usually takes place in February or March. It's a famous event that attracts around 100,000 people each year.

The Ponce Carnival is similar to other famous carnivals around the world, like Mardi Gras in New Orleans and the carnivals in Venice and Rio de Janeiro.

History of the Carnival

Carnaval de Ponce 2011, C. Marina, Plaza Las Delicias, Ponce, Puerto Rico, mirando al norte (DSC02431)
The 2011 Ponce Carnival parade fills the streets with music and fun.

The Ponce Carnival began in 1858. It was started by a Spaniard named José de la Guardia, who held a masked dance. This masquerade ball became a yearly tradition.

In the 1950s, the city's government added a parade to the celebration. By the 1960s, the parade grew to include large, decorated floats. These floats represented local schools, businesses, and community groups.

Some people believe the carnival's traditions came from Barcelona, Spain. Immigrants may have brought the celebration to Ponce. Over time, the people of Ponce added their own special touches. They included Afro-Antillean music, which brings a lot of happy, rhythmic drum sounds to the party.

In 1995, the Ponce Carnival was even featured in the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City. A group of over 200 performers from Ponce marched down Fifth Avenue, sharing their traditions with the world.

Costumes and Masks

Vejigante mask
An illustration of a traditional vejigante mask with its many horns.

A key part of the carnival is the vejigante. Vejigantes are playful characters who wear colorful costumes and scary-looking masks. Their costumes are meant to look like mischievous devils.

The vejigante masks are a famous symbol of Puerto Rican art. They are made from paper-mâché, which is a mix of newspaper and glue. The masks are known for having many horns. Artisans in Ponce have been making these unique masks for over 100 years.

During the parades, vejigantes run around and playfully hit people with blown-up cow bladders. The bladders make a loud noise when they hit something, adding to the fun and excitement of the carnival.

The Burial of the Sardine

The carnival ends with a funny ceremony called the "Burial of the Sardine." This event started in 1967. A fake sardine is put in a coffin and carried through the streets in a pretend funeral parade.

Everyone pretends to be sad, but it's all for fun. The burial marks the end of the party. People sing a song that says the carnival is over, but it will come back again next year.

The Carnival is dead now
They are burying him;
Throw just a little dirt in
So he can rise again.

Schedule of Events

Sand art in Ponce, Puerto Rico
A sand sculpture made for the 2011 carnival by the Sand Masters.

The carnival is a week-long party with something happening every day. Here is a typical schedule:

  • Wednesday: Vejigantes Party
  • Thursday: King Momo's Entrance Parade
  • Friday: Crowning of the Child Queen
  • Saturday: Crowning of the Carnival Adult Queen
  • Sunday: The Main Parade
  • Monday: Carnival's Ball Dance
  • Tuesday: Burial of the Sardine

Carnival Queens

Since 1959, an adult queen has been chosen to represent the carnival. In 1973, the tradition of choosing a child queen also began.

Carnaval Queens


Carnaval Child Queens

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: El Carnaval de Ponce para niños

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